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DESCRIPTION 






OF 






MODERN G-TTN MOUNTS 


IN THE 


UNITED STATES NAVY. 


Bureau of Ordnance, 

NAVY DEPARTMENT, 

1894 . 




WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 
1894. 















DESCRIPTION 


iC, 

3 7 / 


MODERN GUN MOUNTS 


IN TIIE 




Bureau of Ordnance, 

NAVY DEPARTMENT, 

1894 . 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
1894 . 

'Av 















OCT 14 1909 


U. S. NAVAL MOUNTS FOR RAPID-FIRE GUNS. 




The mounts for 4-inch, 5-inch, and 0 inch R. F. guns now in service 
are the 4-inch mounts, Marks II and III; 5 inch mounts, Marks li and 
III, and 6-inch mount, Mark V. 

The general features of these mounts are as follows: 

The gun recoils in the line of lire and moves in and out in a slide 
which is itself supported by trunnions resting on the top carriage. The 
top carriage is central-pivoted on a stand which is bolted to the deck. 
Training is effected by suitable gearing, actuating pinions on the top 
carriage working in a training circle on the stand. The elevating gear 
is bolted to the top carriage, its pinion working in an arc on the slide, 
and, therefore, does not recoil with the gun and can be kept in hand 
at the instant of tiring. 

The recoil is taken up by a piston bolted to the slide traveling in a 
cylinder, which is cast in one, with the sleeve on the gun. The cylin¬ 
der is rifled with 3 grooves of varying cross-sectional area. The widest 
part of the grooves is at the beginning of the recoil. The depth 
‘ ; of the grooves is 0.15 inch. 

The cylinder is usually tilled with a nonfreezing mixture of glycerin 
and water in the proportion of four to one, but either water or oil could 
be used in an emergency. The piston has sufficient clearance to move 
easily in the cylinder, and the liquid passes freely around the piston 
head through the grooves. The cylinder is tilled through the tilling 
hole (20) by means of a funnel supplied with the mount and emptied 
through the drain hole. 

Strong counter-recoil springs of tempered steel return the gun to 
the tiring position. Compressors are furnished by which the springs 
are put in place under an initial tension. The compressor is also used 
in removing the springs when it becomes necessary to run the gun in 
for cleaning and inspection. 

Counter-recoil bumpers are fitted on the slides to take up the shock 
of running out. 

Steel clips are bolted to the top carriage and fit under a clip circle 
on the pivot stand to prevent jump of carriage, the front ones when 
firing, the rear ones when the carriage is returned to battery by the 
connter-recoil springs. 

A steel ratchet lever is furnished each mount for raising the top car¬ 
riage off the rollers. It ships on the head of the pivot bolt, on the 
shank of which is chased a screw thread. 

By this means the rollers can be removed and the roller path cleaned. 
In doing this, however, care must be taken to block up under the car¬ 
riage as it rises, in order to prevent deforming the pivot bolt. 

In the mounts already issued to service the oscillating slides are of 
bronze, but as these have shown signs of spreading under lire in future 
these slides will be made of cast steel. 


3 



4 


The principal parts of the quick-firing mounts are (a) pivot -stand, (b) 
top carriage, (c) oscillating slide, ( d) combined sleeve and recoil cylin¬ 
der, (e) training gear, (/) elevating gear. 

4-inch mount , Mark I. —Only one carriage of this type was built. It 
was never issued to service. 

4 inch mount , Mark II .—The directing-bar mount, Plate xiv. 

Pivot stand. —This is a steel casting, the principal parts of which are 
the deck circles for holding-down bolts (30), the clip circles (02), the 
roller path (17), the training circle (13), and the pivot bolt (14). 

Top carriage. —The top carriage is a steel casting, consisting of a base 
and 2 brackets. It rests on steel rollers (10), which travel in the roller 
path (17) of the pivot stand. These rollers are kept at a fixed distance 
from one another by a bronze roller bearing (33). There is a central 
pivot bolt (14), with nut and washers. The top carriage is bored out 
for the trunnion seats, pivot-bolt holes, and elevating and training 
shaft bearings. The clips (5), cap squares (3), and the bearing (45) for 
vertical training shaft are bolted to the top carriage. A protecting 
band of sheet iron, called the guard (56, Plate xv), made in three 
pieces, which abut under the clips, is bolted to the top carriage. Two 
securing clamps are fitted to the top carriage. 

Oscillating slide. —This is a solid bronze casting, the principal parts 
of which are the vertical brackets, the trunnions (8), the elevating arm, 
and the transom (9), to which is bolted the piston rod. The upper 
edge of the slide rails has a guide lip (57, Plate xv), while the lower 
guide rail has dovetailed in it the steel strips (63). 

A bronze elevating arc (10) is bolted on the left and underneath. 

Stop lugs (6) bring up against the rear face of the top carriage 
when the gun is at extreme elevation. 

Combined sleeve and recoil cylinder. —This is a bronze casting, com¬ 
prising the sleeve (38) and the recoil cylinder (19). 

The sleeve screws on the cyliuder of the gun at its center of gravity 
with a left-handed thread. This is kept from turning by a steel key 
(39) held in place by the key screw (40). The guides of the sleeve 
move in and out in the guide rails on the slide. 

The principal parts of the recoil cylinder are the bonnet (21), the 
stuffing box (23), and the filling hole (20). Leather packing is used 
under the bonnet and Selden’s packing in the stuffing box. 

The cylinder is rifled, as already described. The counter recoil spring 
(27), which is in two sections, seperated by the bronze disk (28), sur¬ 
rounds the piston rod (25) in the recoil cylinder. There are no bump¬ 
ers between the oscillating slide and the recoil cylinder. The recoil 
cylinder has no drain hole. 

Training gear. —The steel training shaft (42) is supported by the 
directing arm (29) and the training and elevating shaft brackets (50), 
both of which are bronze castings bolted to the top carriage. The 
shaft carries a worm (46) gearing into the worm wheel (52). This worm 
wheel and the miter gear (58), by which the vertical training shaft (60) 
is actuated, are on the training cross shaft (51). The vertical shaft 
carries the training pinion (59) gearing into the training circle (13) on 
the pivot stand. 

The worm wheel is not keyed to the cross shaft, but is held in place 
by the friction disks. These disks are slotted to receive the feather on 
the cross shaft and turn with 'it. The outer disk has a long collar, 
which passes through a hole in the bracket of the top carriage and is 
threaded to receive a bronze nut. The training cross shaft projects 
beyond the collar and has a threaded handle on the end. 


5 


In training by the handwheel the bronze nut is unscrewed so as to 
clear the boss on the top carriage. The friction disks are then set firmly 
in their seats in the training worm wheel by the handle of the cross 
shaft. The use of the bronze nut is to pull the friction disk out of its 
seat in case it jams. To do this it is only necessary to ease off the 
cross handle and to screw the bronze nut hard up against the side of 
the carriage. For rapid training the friction on the training-arm wheel 
can be relieved by slacking up the bronze nut and cross handle and 
the gun trained by means of the directing bar. 

In late designs the bronze nut and cross handles have been replaced 
by a friction clutch. This consists of a bronze bracket (a), carrying a 
collar ( b) threaded on the outside to receive the steel lever (c). The 
lever has a cylindrical base threaded on the inside and carries a lip (d) 
working in the groove ( e) on the shank of the friction disk. A fric¬ 
tionless washer (/) is placed on the cross shaft between the faces of 
the lever and disk. With the lever in a vertical position the friction 
disk is clear of the training worm wheel; but when the lever is thrown 
down through an angle of 45 degrees the disk and worm wheel are 
bound firmly together. 

Elevating gear .—The elevating shaft (45) is concentric with the train¬ 
ing shaft, the latter being bored out to receive it. The elevating cross 
shaft (49) carries a worm wheel (53) and pinion (48), the former gearing 
into the worm of the elevating shaft and the latter into the elevating 
arc (10) on the oscillating slide. 

A thrust spring (44), the ends of which are ground flat, is placed on 
the elevating shaft between the elevating worm and the thrust cap, 
the latter being held against the bracket on the inside of the top car¬ 
riage by nuts (37) and washers. The elevating shaft is turned by the 
handwheel (34). The elevating worm wheel is fitted with friction disks 
(55,56) similar to those on the training worm wheel. The inner disk 
is held in its seat by a cup spring (54); the outer disk has a bronze 
nut and a cross handle (57). As the object of these disks is to relieve 
any unusual strain that might be brought on the worm wheel, they 
may be set up for a lull due. 

4-inch Mount , Mark III, Plate XV .—This mount is identical with 
Mark II, with the following exceptions: 

(a) It has no directing bar, and the training is effected by a hand- 
wheel suitably geared on the outside of the bracket. 

(b) The elevating arc is on the left bracket. 

(c) The gun sights are mounted on the slide, and therefore do not 
recoil with the gun. 

The training gear consists of a pinion (59) on a vertical shaft (60), 
which passes through the bottom of the top carriage. The pinion is 
driven by gearing arranged in this way: A transverse shaft (42) passes 
through the side brackets of the top carriage, on each side of which, 
outside the brackets, is a pinion (32) actuated by a driver (31) on the 
axle of the handwheel (41). On the shaft inside and close to the right 
bracket is a worm (46), which gears into a worm wheel (52) keyed to the 
upper end of the vertical shaft (60) on the lower end of which is the 
small pinion (59) gearing in the training circle (13) of the pivot stand. 

The elevating gear is the ordinary service type fitted with a recoil 
spring. It is supported by a bronze bracket (50) bolted on the left of 
the top carriage. The elevating shaft (43) carries a worm (47) and the 
recoil spring (44). The worm wheel (53) is on a short transverse 
shaft (49), which also carries a pinion (48) gearing in the elevating 
arc (10). The latter is bolted to the oscillating slide. 


6 


The 5-inch mount , Mark II , Plate XVI. * —The 5-inch mount, Mark 
II, is similar to 4-inch mount, Mark II, but differs from it in having two 
counter-recoil spring cylinders cast on the sleeve, and also in having 
the recoil cylinders pierced with drain holes. The transom (9) of the 
slide is bored with 3 holes for 3 rods, which are secured with nuts and 
washers (26). The middle rod (25) carries the recoil-cylinder pis¬ 
ton (24); the 2 side rods are for the counter-recoil spring cylinders. 
Each of these cylinders contains 3 spiral steel springs, which are com¬ 
pressed in recoil by the disks (28) on the rods. Between the forward 
ends of the spring cylinders and the transom of the oscillating slide 
are the bumpers, formerly made of rubber, but now replaced by small 
spiral steel springs. 

5- inch mount , Mark III. —Same general design as Mark II. The slide 
is made of steel; the center of recoil cylinder is raised 1 inch to reduce 
the metal between the sleeve and cylinder; the top carriage is cutout, 
front and rear, and a friction clutch is fitted to the training gear. 

6- inch mount , Mark V, Plate XVII. t—Similar to 4-inch, Mark III. 
The sleeve casting comprises only the sleeve and recoil cylinder. The 
cylinders for counter-recoil springs are of lap-welded locomotive tubing, 
bolted to the sleeve at the forward end and supported by a bronze yoke 
with eyes, which fits around the gun. The tubing is about 5J feet 
long and 7 inches diameter; there is one on each side of the recoil cyl¬ 
inder, and each one contains 4 springs. 

The elevating gear is fitted with a friction disk. The friction brake 
consists of a curved steel arc bolted to the oscillating slide and passing 
through an adjustable clamp on the right side of the top carriage. 

The recoil mounts for 0, 3, and 1 pounder rapid-fire guns are as fol¬ 
lows : 

The 6-pounder recoil mounts. —There are three varieties of 6-pounder 
mount in service—Mark I (Plate i), Mark II (Plate n), and Mark III 
(Plate hi). 

All parts having the same name bear the same numbers. 

Mark I, which is no longer issued, differs from Mark II in having the 
counter-recoil spring placed outside the recoil cylinder, and in using 
two springs, one inside of the other, instead of one. Marks I and II 
are used with all 6-pounder guns having trunnions; Mark III with 6- 
pounder trunnionless guns. 

The following description of Mark II (Plate n) applies equally to 
Mark I (Plate i): 

The gun rests in a bed (17) called the combined cylinder and trunnion 
bearing, and is rigidly secured there by the gun cap squares and bolts 
(14). Upon the under side and cast in one with the trunnion bearing 
is the recoil cylinder (19), fitted with bonnet (21), piston (24), piston 
rod (25), piston-rod nuts (26), head-gland nuts, and stuffing box (23). 
Upon the inside of the cylinder are the recoil-cylinder grooves (37), 
tapering rapidly from a wide opening at the normal position of the 
piston to nothing, when the gun is at the limit of recoil. Upon the 
upper and rear end of the recoil cylinder is the filling plug (20). 

Within the recoil cylinder is the piston rod (25) and the counter- 
recoil spring (27), one end resting against the head of the recoil cylin¬ 
der, the other against the front face of the piston (24). 

*5-incli mount, Mark I, is a gravity-return mount for use with guns of ordinary 
type. 

t 6-inch mounts, Marks I, II, III, IV, are gravity-return mounts for use with guns 
of ordinary type. 






7 


The combined cylinder and trunnion bearing rests upon slides called 
the slide guides (16), worked on the inner sides of the oscillating 
slide (7). 

The oscillating slide is fitted with trunnions (8), resting in bearings 
on the Y-shaped saddle (1), and there secured by the saddle cap 
square (3) and saddle cap-square bolts (4). 

The slide transom (9) is bored through in line with the axis of the 
piston rod (25), which passes through the hole and is secured by the 
piston-rod locking nuts. 

Inside the oscillating slide, and at the extreme limit of recoil, are 
the recoil stops (13), secured by screws. 

Upon the outer sides of the oscillating slide, and open to the rear, 
are the slioulder-bar dovetails (30). In one of the shoulder-bar dove¬ 
tails, and secured by a set screw, is the shoulder bar (29), fitted with 
a deflector (33) and a wooden shoulder piece (34), padded with rubber 
tubing. 

The shoulder bars and shoulder pieces for the Driggs-Schroeder and 
Hotchkiss guns differ slightly in shape. The former is fitted on the 
right side of the oscillating slide and is provided with a pistol grip and 
trigger pull; the latter is fitted on the left side. 

The saddle and saddle pivot is a y-shaped bronze casting having 
trunnion bearings on its arms for the trunnions of the oscillating slide 
and for lugs (51) for shield supports (31). It is bored and tapped to 
take the slide clamp screw (12), which may be placed on either the 
right or left side of the saddle. The bottom of the saddle pivot for 3 
and 6 pounder mounts is bored and tapped to receive the securing 
bolt (36). Under the pivot on 3 and 6 pounder mounts is a frictionless 
washer (35). 

The shield on the 6 and 3 pounder mounts is supported by 4 stout 
shield supports (31), which are bolted to the shield and are secured in 
the lugs of the saddle by nuts. 

The recoil cylinder is filled with a mixture of four parts of glycerin 
to one part of water. In the absence of glycerin, either oil or water 
may be used. 

The 6-pounder, Mark III (Plate in), differs essentially from the Mark 
II in having a combined sleeve and cylinder (17, Plate in), instead of 
a combined cylinder and trunnion bearing (17, Plate ii). The gun, 
which is threaded on the outside, screws into the sleeve (39) and is 
secured by means of the key (40), the key being held by the key 
screw (41). This mount can be use! for either Driggs-Schroeder or 
Hotchkiss guns. 

The 3-pounder recoil mounts .—There are three styles of 3-pounder 
mounts—Mark I, Mark II, and Mark III. (See Plate iv.) 

The Mark I mount had two recoil cylinders, instead of one, as in the 
Mark II mount. The counter-recoil springs were placed in the rear of 
and surrounding the hydraulic recoil cylinder, instead of inside of it, 
as in the Mark II and Mark III mounts. The shield was held by a 
casting which did duty as a saddle cap square and shield support com¬ 
bined. The general principle was the same as in the 6-pounder, Mark 
II, already described. 

The Mark II mounts are fitted to the Hotchkiss 3-pounder guns, the 
Mark III mounts to the Driggs-Schroeder guns; otherwise the two 
mounts are identical. They differ from the 6-pounder, Mark II, mounts 
previously described in dimensions only, and the description of that 
mount refers equally to these. 


8 


The 1-pounder recoil mounts , Plate F.—Plate V shows a Mark I 
mount mounted on a Mark II steel cage stand and deck circle. 

The Mark II mount is manufactured by the Hotchkiss Ordnance 
Company, and differs from the Mark I in length of recoil cylinder, 

' strength of counter-recoil spring, length of recoil allowed, and in other 
minor points. The general construction and mode of working is the 
same. 

These mounts, with the exception of the shape of the saddle pivot (2) 
and the absence of the frictionless washer and securing bolt, are sirni 
lar to the 6-pounder, Mark III, mounts previously described. 

The spare parts furnished with 1, 3, and 6 pounder mounts are one 
combination wrench for dismounting or assembling with every two 
mounts, and one spare counter-recoil spring for each mount. All parts 
of mounts of the same type are interchangeable. 

To assemble a hydraulic recoil mount 1 pounder, Mark I, or 6-pounder, 
Mark III: 

Remove recoil-cylinder bon,net; withdraw piston and piston rod; 
screw the sleeve of combined sleeve and recoil cylinder upon the gun; 
insert key, and screw in the key screw. Place the saddle pivot in a pivot 
socket; remove the saddle cap squares, and place the trunnions of the 
oscillating slide in the bearings. Replace saddle cap squares and 
screw home the bolts. 

Remove recoil stop; slide the combined sleeve and recoil cylinder in 
on the slide guide; and set up slide clamp screw. 

Replace recoil stops; insert counter-recoil spring in recoil cylinder, 
having first cleaned it from dust. Insert piston rod and piston. 
Screw home the locking nuts on front side of slide transom. Screw on 
the bonnet, being careful that the leather washer lays fair on its seat. 
Slack slide clamp screw and give the gun extreme depression, then set 
up clamp screw. Unscrew the filling plug, screw in the funnel, and 
fill the recoil cylinder with a mixture of 4 parts of glycerin to 1 of 
water. Unscrew funnel and screw in filling plug. Level the gun and 
set up, if necessary, to prevent leakage, on the head gland nut. Care 
must be taken to keep the recoil cylinder full of liquid. 

Care and preservation. —Avoid absolutely the use of emery, bath 
brick, or other powders for cleaning purposes. Use'mineral oil or vase¬ 
line. Lard oil is to be avoided. A liberal allowance of oil should be 
used on saddle pivot so that the frictionless washer may be kept well 
lubricated. The drain holes in the bottom of the pivot socket in cage 
stand should be kept open and not allowed to become clogged with 
oil or dirt. Use the combination wrench for dismounting or assem¬ 
bling, and not a monkey wrench. Before target practice, see that the 
slide guides are clean, free from dust, and well lubricated; that the 
recoil cylinder is full; if any leakage shows about the head gland, set 
up on head gland nut to correct it; and that the locking nuts on the 
piston rod are set up. 

Should the gun recoil violently against the stops, it ydll be because 
the cylinder is not full. It should be filled at once, as the shock is 
liable to carry away the stops and bend the cheeks of the oscillating 
slide. 

Nonrecoil mounts for P. F. guns. —Nonrecoil mounts are furnished 
tor the light 1-pounder gun, the 37 mm. and 47 mm. revolving cannon, 
and the Gatling gun. 

They are Y-shaped saddle pivots, and differ from the saddle pivots 
of the recoil mounts already described only in having the saddle clamp 


9 


screw removed, the clamping of the gun being obtained by setting up 
a clamp screw through the cap square, thus compressing the trunnion. 

As the saddle pivots of the Gatling gun are smaller than the pivot 
sockets of 1-pounder mounts, adapters are furnished so that they may 
be used in the sockets issued to the service. 

The Tower mount for 3 and 6 pounders, Plate VI, consists of a pivot 
socket called the carriage (1), fitted with trucks (3) and pivot tail (4), 
through whose deck-pivot socket (5) passes the deck pivot. (7) The 
trucks rest outlie truck circle (17), bolted to the truck-circle shelf. (20) 
In addition to the usual fittings of pivot sockets there is a compressor 
(12), compressor lever (11), and compressor screw. (13) 

This arrangement permits the mount to travel on the truck circle 
and to be secured by means of the compressor at any desired point, giv¬ 
ing addition train. 

Cage stands for 3 and 6 pounders, Plate VII .—The 6 and 3 pounder 
cage stands are identical. They are made of cast steel and bolt solidly 
to the deck. They consist of a pivot socket (1), cage head (2), cage 
body (3), cage legs (4), and cage deck plate (5), (damp screw (6), clamp 
(7), and drain holes (8). 

The saddle pivot of the 3 and 6 pounder mounts rests in the pivot 
socket and is there held by the securing bolt, which passes from down 
up through the bottom of the socket and through the center of the fric- 
tionless washer, and screws into the saddle pivot. 

Pail sockets for 3 and 6 pounders, Plate VIII , are simply pivot sockets 
made of bronze cast with flanges, drilled to receive rivets or bolts, 
which secure them to brackets, and consist of the pivot socket (1), 
clamp screw (2), clamp (3), drain holes (4), securiug-bolt hole (5), and 
boss (0). 

Rail sockets for 1-pounder and 37 mm., Plate IX, are made of bronze 
cast with flanges, drilled to receive rivets or bolts, which secure them 
to the rail, and consist of the flanges (1), pivot socket (2), clamp screw 
(3), clamp (4), and boss (5). A side view of pivot saddle for short 
1-pounder or 37 mm. revolving cannon is shown. 

Cage stands for 1-pounder and 37 mm., Plate V. —The 1-pounder and 
37 mm. cage stands of Mark II are conical steel or bronze stands, and 
are secured by a bayonet joint and locked by a stop pin to deck circles 
of either steei or bronze, bolted to the deck. A short cage stand made 
of bronze and using the same deck circles is issued for use in boats. 
(See Plate X.) They consist of the cage head A, the cone legs D, cone 
foot H, pivot socket 2*, clamp screw B, clamp C. The deck circle is a 
steel or bronze circle having 4 clips G, a stop pin T, stop-pin spring K, 
stop pin chain L. The deck circle is secured to the deck by 4 through 
bolts with nuts and washers. 

The Mark I stand and deck circle are cast steel and differ from the 
present standard Mark II in the method of securing the stand to the 
deck circle and in the shape and position of the clamp screw. 

Boat cage stand, Plate X—A boat bronze cage stand in all respects 
except height, identical with the standard Mark II stand, is issued for 
use in boats. 

Top mounts , Plate XI.— The Mark II, top mount, is a pivot socket 
(2) fitted with a roller (12) which travels on the angle iron on the 
interior of the top rim. The trail (1), which is cast in one with the 
pivot socket, has bolted to it the rail clips (5). The outer and movable 
clip is journaled to receive the axle (7) of the truck (3); the inner and 
immovable clip is chased to receive the thread on the end of the axle 
(7)j a trail compressor (4) is keyed to the axle,- by setting up this the 


10 


clips are made to grip the web of the trolley rail (8), a hooked com¬ 
pressor (0), recessed to pass over the pivot head and roller and hook¬ 
ing over the half round on the outer edge of the top rims, is fitted with 
a clamp screw and lever and draws the pivot socket solidly against 
the top. 

A trolley mount traveling on 4 trucks, resting on 2 tracks, has been 
issued. This mount is secured in any desired position by setting up a 
compressor, which bears on the under side of the trolley rails. 

A top mount of shelf pattern (Plate xn) is also issued. The top 
mount and shelf are cast of bronze and are clearly shown in the plate. 

Owing to the difference in the size of the saddle pivots of the 
Gatling gun and 1-pounder bronze sleeves, called adapters, which 
slip over the saddle pivots, are furnished. 

NOMENCLATURE FOR HYDRAULIC RECOIL MOUNT, MARK I. 


For 6-pouudcr Hotchkiss gun. 


Plate I. 


1. Saddle. 

2. Saddle pivot. 

3. Saddle cap square. 

4. Saddle cap-square bolts. 

5. Lugs for shield supports. 

6. Clamping lug. 

7. Oscillating slide. 

8. Slide trunnions. 

9. Slide transom. 

10. Slide arc. 


^ 2 * | Slide clamp screw. 

13. Recoil stop and screw. 

14. Gun cap squares and bolts. 

15. Gun trunnion seats. 

16. Slide guides. 

17. Combined cylinder and 

bearing. 

19. Recoil cylinder. 


20. Recoil-cylinder filling plug. (Not 

shown.) 

21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet and stuffing 

box. 

22. Recoil-cylinder-bonnet gland nut. 

23. Recoil-cylinder head, gland nut, and 

stuffing box. 

24. Piston. 

25. Piston rod. 

26. Piston-rod nut. 

27. Counter-recoil springs. 

28. Counter-recoil-spring backer. 

29. Shoulder bar. 

30. Shoulder-bar dovetail and set screw. 

31. Shield supports, nuts and bolts. 

32. Shield. 

trunnion j 33. Deflector. 

34. Shoulder piece. 


NOMENCLATURE FOR HYDRAULIC RECOIL MOUNT, MARK II. 

For 6-pounder Hotchkiss gun. 

Plate II. 


1. Saddle. 

2. Saddle pivot. 

3. Saddle-cap square. 

4. Saddle-cap-square bolts. 

5. Lugs for shield supports. 

6. Clamping lug. 

7. Oscillating slide. 

8. Slide trunnions. 

9. Slide transom. 

10. Slide arc. 

^ j Slide-clamp screw. 

13. Recoil stop and screw. 

14. Gun-cap squares and bolts. 

15. Gun-trunnion seats. 

16. Slide guides. 

17. Combined cylinder and trunnion bear¬ 

ing. 

18. Slide groove. 


19. Recoil cylinder. 

20. Recoil-cylinder filling plug. 

21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

23. Recoil-cylinder head, gland nut, and 

stuffing box. 

24. Piston. 

25. Piston rod. 

27. Counter recoil spring. 

29. Shoulder bar. 

30. Shoulder bar dovetail and set screw. 

31. Shield supports, nuts, and bolts. 

32. Shield. 

33. Deflector. 

34. Shoulder piece. 

35. Frictionless washer. 

36. Securing bolt. 

37. Recoil-cylinder grooves. 

38. Locking nuts. 





11 


NOMENCLATURE FOR HYDRAULIC RECOIL MOUNT, MARK III. 
For 6-pounder Driggs-Schroeder and Hotchkiss guns. 

Plate III. 


1. Saddle. 

2. Saddle pivot. 

3. Saddle-cap square. 

4. Saddle-cap-square bolts. 

5. Lugs for shield supports. 

6. Clamping lug. (Not shown.) 

7. Oscillating slide. 

8. Slide trunnions. 

9. Slide transom. 

10. Slide arc. 

J.V | Slide-clamp screw. 

13. Recoil stop and screw. 

16. Lower-slide guides. 

17. Combined sleeve and cylinder. 

18. Upper-slide guides. 

19. Recoil cylinder. 

20. Recoil-cylinder tilling ping. 

21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 


23. Recoil-cylinder head, gland nut, and 

stuffing box. 

24. Piston. 

25. Piston rod. 

26. Piston-rod nut. 

27. Counter-recoil spring. 

29. Shoulder bar. 

30. Shoulder-bar dovetail and set screw. 

31. Shield supports, nuts, and bolts. 

32. Shield. 

33. Deflector. 

34. Shoulder piece. 

35. Frictionless washer. 

36. Securing bolt. 

37. Recoil-cylinder grooves. 

38. Locking nuts. 

39. Sleeve. 

40. Key. 

41. Key screw. 


NOMENCLATURE FOR HYDRAULIC RECOIL MOUNTS, MARKS II AND III. 

For 3-pounder Driggs-Schroeder and Hotchkiss guns. 


Plate IV. 


1. Saddle. 

2. Saddle pivot. 

3. Saddle cap square. 

4. Saddle cap-square bolts. 

5. Lugs for shield supports. 

6. Clamping lug. (Not shown.) 

7. Oscillating slide. 

8. Slide trunnions. 

9. Slide transom. 

10. Slide arc. 


11 . 

12 . 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 
17. 


| Slide clamp screw. 

Recoil stop and screw. (Not shown.) 
Gun cap squares and bolts. 

Gun trunnion seats. 

Slide guides. 

Combined cylinder and trunnion 
bearing. 


18. Slide groove. 

19. Recoil cylinder. 

20. Recoil-cylinder filling plug. 

21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

23. Recoil-cylinder head, gland nut, and 

stuffing box. 

24. Piston. 

25. Piston rod. 

27. Counter-recoil spring. 

29. Shoulder bar. 

30. Shoulder-bar dovetail and set screw. 

31. Shield supports, nuts, and bolts. 

32. Shield. 

34. Shoulder piece. 

35. Frictionless washer. 

36. Securing bolt. 

37. Recoil-cylinder grooves. 

38. Locking nuts. 


NOMENCLATURE FOR HYDRAULIC RECOIL MOUNT, MARK I. 

With cage stand Mark II, for heaug 1-pounder Driggs-Schroeder and Hotchkiss guns. 

Plate V. 


1. Saddle. 

2. Saddle pivot. 

3. Saddle cap square. 

4. Saddle cap square bolts. 

7. Oscillating slide. 

8. Slide trunnions. 

9. Slide transom. 

10. Slide arc. 

j-1* | Slide clamp screw. 

13. Recoil stop and screw. 

16. Slide guides. 

17. Combined sleeve and cylinder. 

19. Recoil cylinder. 

20. R< coil-cylinder filling plug. (Not 

shown.) 


21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

23. Recoil-cylinder head, gland nut, and 

stuffing box. 

24. Piston. 

25. Piston rod. 

26. Piston-rod nut. (Not shown.) 

27. Counter-recoil springs. 

29. Shoulder bar. 

30. Shoulder-bar dovetail and set screw. 
34. Shoulder piece. 

38. Locking nuts. 

40. Key. 

41. Key screw. 






12 


NOMENCLATURE FOR TOWER MOUNT. 


1. Carriage. 

2. Truck lugs. 

3. Trucks. 

4. Pivot tail. 

5. Pivot socket (deck). 

6. Pivot socket (tail). 

7. Deck pivot. 

8. Flanges. 

9. Clamp screw. 

10. Pivot socket. 


Plate VI. 

11. Compressor lever. 

12. Compressor. 

13. Compressor screw. 

15. Compressor lug. 

16. Compressor washer. 

17. Truck circle. 

18. Axle. 

19. Compressor angle iron. 

20. Truck-circle shelf. 

21. Truck-circle-slielf angle iron. 


NOMENCLATURE FOR 3-POUNDER AND 6-POUNDER CAGE STAND, MARK II. 

Plate VII. 


1. Pivot socket. 

2. Cage head. 

3. Cage body. 

4. Cage legs. 


5. Cage deck plate. 

6. Clamp screw. 

7. Clamp. 

8. Drain holes. 


NOMENCLATURE FOR 3-rOUNDER AND 6-POUNDER RAIL SOCKET. 

Plate VIII. 


1. Rail socket. 

2. Clamp screw. 

3. Clamp. 


4. Drain holes. 

5. Securiug-bolt hole. 

6. Boss. 


NOMENCLATURE FOR 1-POUNDER RAIL SOCKET. 


Plate IX. 


1. Flanges. 

2. Pivot socket. 

3. Clamp screw. 


4. Clamp. 

5. Boss. 


NOMENCLATURE FOR GATLING GUN TURTLE-BACK MOUNT, ON BRONZE 

BOAT CAGE STAND. 

Plate X. 


1. Cage head. 

2. Deck circle. 

3. Deck-circle clips. 


4. Clamp screw. 

5. Stop pin. 

6. Cage foot. 


NOMENCLATURE FOR 1-POUNDER, TOP MOUNT, MARK II. 

Plate XI. 


1. Trail. 

2. Pivot socket. 

3. Trucks. 

4. Trail compressor. 

5. Rail clips. 

6. Compressor. 

7. Trail-compressor screw axle. 


8 Trolley rail. 

9. Compressor screw and lever. 

10. Clamp-screw boss. (Clamp screw not 

shown.) 

11. Roller axle. 

12. Roller. 








13 


NOMENCLATURE FOR 37 MM. HOTCHKISS TOP MOUNT, MARK I. 

Plate XII. 


1. Mount. 

2. Pivot socket. 

3. Trucks, with axles and nuts. 

4. Pawls. 

5. Holding-down clip. 


6. Compressor, with clamp screw and 

handwheel. 

7. Truck rail and shelf (in one). 

8. Pawl ratchet. 


NOMENCLATURE FOR FIELD CARRIAGE FOR 1-POUNDER HOTCHKISS 

OR DRIGGS-SCHROEDER GUN. 


Plate 

1. Brackets. 

2. Wheels. 

3. Axle. 

4. Brake screw. 

5. Brake. 

6. Axle bearing. 

7. Seat. 

8. Stay bolt. 

9. Trail shoo. 

10. Lunette. 

11. Trail wheel. 

12. Trail-wheel pin. 

13. Trail-wheel loop. 

14. Trail-wheel loop pin. 

15. Pintle hook, with cap square. 

16. Box rest. 

17. Box trunnion bearings. 


xm. 

18 Box axle bearing and cap squares. 

19. Box lugs. (Not shown.) 

20. Key lug and key. 

21. Box-rest cheek bolt. 

22. Linchpins, complete. 

23. Washer and eye. 

31. Pivot-rod socket, complete. 

32. Securing rod. 

Ammunition boxes. 

25. Handles. 

26. Handle straps. 

27. Trunnions. 

28. Clinch hooks. 

29. Lock. 

30. Spare-article box. 


4-INCH MOUNT, MARK II. 
Plate XIV. 


1. Pivot stand. 

2. Top carriage. 

3. Cap squares. 

4. Cap-square bolt. 

5. Clips. 

6. Stop lugs. 

7. Oscillating slide, 

8. Slide trunnions. 

9. Slide transom. 

10. Elevating arc. 

11. Clamps. 

12. Clamping lever. 

13. Training circle. 

14. Pivot bolt with shoulder. 

15. Deck circle. 

16. Roller. 

17. Roller path. 

18. Recoil-cylinder grooves. (Notshown.) 

19. Recoil cylinder. 

20. Recoil-cylinder filling plug. 

21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

22. Locking pin for piston. 

23. Recoil-cylinder head, gland, and 

stuffing box. 

24. Piston. 

25. Piston rod. 

26. Piston-rod nuts. 

27. Counter-recoil spring. 

28. Counter-recoil spring disks. 

29. Directing bar. 

30. Clip bolts and nuts. 

31. Shield supports. 

32. Shield. 

33. Roller bearing. 

34. Elevating wheel. 


36. Holding-down bolt. 

37. Locking nuts foi elevating shaft. 

38. Sleeve. 

39. Sleeve key. 

40. Sleeve-key screw. 

41. Training wheel. 

42. Training shaft. 

43. Elevating shaft. 

44. Elevating-shaft spring. 

45. Vertical training-shaft bearing. 

46. Training worm. 

47. Elevating worm. 

48. Elevating pinion. 

49. Elevating cross shaft. 

50. Training and elevating shaft bracket. 

51. Training cross shaft. 

52. Training-worm wheel. 

53. Elevating-worm wheel. 

54. Cup spring. 

55. Outer friction disk. 

56. Inner friction disk. 

57. Elevating clamp handle, 

58. Training miter wheels. 

59. Training pinion. 

60. Vertical training shaft. 

61. Pivot-bolt nut. 

62. Clip circle. 

63. Facing strip. 

a. Bronze bracket. 

b. Collar. 

c. Steel lever. 

d. Lip. 

e. Grooves on shank of friction disks. 

/. Frictionless washer. 






14 


1. Pivot stand. 

2. Top carriage. 

3. Cap squares. 

4. Cap-squares bolts. 

5. Clips. 

6. Stop lugs. 

7. Oscillating slide. 

8. Slide trunnions. 

9. Slide transom. 

10. Elevating arc. 

11. Sight bracket. 

12. Sight. 

13. Training circle. 

14. Pivot bolt with shoulder. 

15. Deck circle. 

16. Roller. 

17. Roller path. 

18. Recoil-cylinder grooves. (Not shown.) 

19. Recoil cylinder. 

20. Recoil-cylinder filling plug. (Not 

shown.) 

21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

22. Locking pin for piston. 

23. Recoil-cylinder head, gland, and 

stuffing box. 

24. Piston. 

25. Piston rod. 

26. Piston-rod nuts. 

27. Counter-recoil spring. 

28. Counter-recoil spring disk. 

29. Training handwheel shaft. 

30. Clip bolts and nuts. 

31. Handwheel pinions. 


Training-shaft pinions. 

33. Roller bearing. 

34. Elevating wheel. 

35. Pivot-bolt washer. 

36. Holding-down bolt. 

37. Elevating-shaft nut. 

38. Sleeve. 

39. Sleeve key. 

40. Sleeve-key screw. 

41. Training wheel. 

42. Training shaft. 

43. Elevating shaft. 

44. Elevating-shaft spring. 

45. Vertical training-shaft bearing. 

46. Training worm. 

47. Elevating worm. 

48. Elevating pinion. 

49. Elevating cross shaft. 

50. Elevating-shaft bracket. 

51. Training-shaft bracket. 

52. Training worm wheel. 

53. Elevating worm wheel. 

54. Front-sight mass. 

55. Front sight. 

56. Roller guard. 

57. Slide guides. 

58. Sleeve rails. 

59. Training pinion. 

60. Vertical training shaft. 

61. Pivot-bolt nut. 

62. Clip circle. 

63. Facing strip. 


4-INCH MOUNT, MARK III. 
Plate XV. 

32. 


5-INCH MOUNT, MARK II. 


Plate XVI. 


1. Pivot stand. 

2. Top carriage. 

3. Cap squares. 

4. Cap-square bolts. 

5. Clips. 

6. Stop lugs. 

7. Oscillating slide. 

8. Slide trunnions. 

9. Slide transom. 

10. Elevating arc. 

11. Clamp. 

12. Clamping lever. 

13. Training circle. 

14. Pivot bolt with shoulder. 

15. Deck circle. 

16. Roller. 

17. Roller path. 

18. Recoil-cylinder grooves. (Not shown.) 

19. Recoil cylinder. 

20. Recoil-cylinder filling plug. (Not 

shown.) 

21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

22. Locking pin for piston. 

23. Recoil-cylinder head, gland, and stuf¬ 

fing box. 

24. Piston. 

25. Piston rod. 

26. Piston-rod nuts. 

27. Counter-recoil spring. 

28. Counter-recoil spring disk. 

29. Directing bar. 

30. Clip bolts and nuts. 

31. Shield supports. (Not shown.) 


32. Shield. 

33. Roller bearing. 

34. Elevating wheel. 

35. Pivot-bolt washer. 

36. Holding-down bolt. 

37. Locking nuts for elevating shaft. 

38. Sleeve. 

39. Sleeve key. 

40. Sleeve-key screw. 

41. Training wheel. 

42. Training shaft. 

43. Elevating shaft. 

44. Elevating-shaft spring. (Not shown.) 

45. Vertical training-shaft bearing. 

46. Training worm. 

47. Elevating worm. 

48. Elevating pinion. 

49. Elevating cross shaft. 

50. Elevating-slialt bracket. 

51. Training cross shaft. 

52. Training-worm wheel. 

53. Elevating-worm wheel. 

54. Cup spring. 

55. Outer friction disk. 

56. Inner friction disk. 

57. Elevating-clamp nut. 

58. Training miter wheels. 

59. Training pinion. 

60. Vertical training shaft. 

61. Pivot-bolt nut. 

62. Clip circle. 

63. Facing strip. 

64. Bumper springs. 






15 


6-INCII MOUNT, MARK V. 
Plate XVII. 


1. Pivot stand. 

2. Top carriage. 

3. Cap-square 

4. Cap square bolts. 

5. Clips. 

6. Stop lugs. (Not shown.) 

7. Oscillating slide. 

8. Slide trunnions. 

9. Slide transom. 

10. Elevating arc. 

11. Clamp. 

13. Training circle. 

14. Pivot bolt with shoulder. 

15. Deck circle. 

16. Roller. 

17. Roller path. 

18. Recoil-cylinder grooves. (Not shown.) 

19. Recoil cylinder. 

20. Recoil-cylinder tilling plug. 

21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

22. Locking pin for piston. 

23. Recoil-cylinder head, gland, and 

stuffing box. 

24. Piston. 

25. Piston rod. 

26. Piston-rod nuts. 

27. Counter-recoil spring. 

28. Counter-recoil-spring disk. 

29. Training handwheel shaft. 

30. Clip bolts and nuts. 

31. Handwheel pillions. 

32. Training-shaft pinions. 


33. Roller bearing. 

34. Elevating wheel. 

35. Pivot-bolt washer. 

36. Holding-down bolt. 

37. Elevating-shaft nut. 

38. Sleeve. 

39. Sleeve key. 

40. Sleeve-key screw. 

41. Training wheel. 

42. Training-wheel shaft. 

43. Elevating shaft. 

44. Elevating-shaft spring. 

45. Vertical training-shaft bearing. 

46. Training worm. 

47. Elevating worm. 

48. Elevating pinion. 

49. Elevating cross shaft. 

50. Elevating-shaft bracket. 

51. Training-shaft bracket. 

52. Training-worm wheel. 

53. Elevating-worm wheel. 

54. Bumper springs. 

55. Outer friction disk. 

56. Inner friction disk. 

57. Elevating-clamp handle. 

58. Yoke. 

59. Training pinion. 

60. Vertical training shaft. 

61. Pivot-bolt nut. 

62. Clip circle. 

i 63. Pivot bouching. 

1 64. Bronze pivot bearing. 










































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6-INCH AND 8-INCH CARRIAGES. 

(ORDINARY TYRE.) 


6-INCH CARRIAGES. 

The general design is that of a top carriage moving upon inclined 
rails, the recoil being controlled by a piston moving against a constant 
resistance in a closed cylinder, and tlie gun returned to battery by 
gravity. 

Mark I. 

Only one carriage of this mark was built. It was a shifting pivot 
designed especially for the Dolphin. It has been withdrawn from 
service. 

Mark II. 

This design embraces the gravity return shifting carriages, and the 
gravity return broadside carriages of the Chicago , Atlanta, and Boston. 
All of these carriages are muzzle-pivoting. 

GRAVITY RETURN SHIFTING CARRIAGE. 

Plate 1. 

The principal parts are the slide, top carriage, and recoil cylinder. 

The slide consists of two steel I girders or rails (1), inclined toward 
the front end at an angle of 10°. They are rigidly connected by front 
and rear transoms (2) and (21). The front transom is riveted between 
the rails and has cast upon its front face the coupling eyes (8). It is 
cut out to receive the flange (G2) of the recoil cylinder (GO), which is 
bolted to it. The rear end of this transom has bolted to it the T-shape 
cylinder transom (Gl), which supports the rear end of the cylinder. 

The front transom has also secured to it by bolts and lints the 
counter-recoil bumpers (3) and the breeching springs (<sl). 

The rear transom (24) is u shape, and is riveted to the lower flanges of 
the slide rails. It carries the training truck bearings and has cut in 
it the pivot hole. Both ends of this transom are faced to receive the 
training-gear bracket, although this bracket is usually secured on the 
right end. 

The front training truck bearings (6) are riveted to the front transom 
and to a projecting flange of tlie rails. The shifting truck bearings (74) 
are riveted on the outside of the rails in rear of the front truck bearing. 

Two pivot lugs carrying the front clips (31) are bolted at the intersec¬ 
tion of the rails with the front transom. 

17 

11G5 G M -2 




18 


On the lower side of the rails, just in rear of the shifting-truck hear¬ 
ings, are placed the drum and axle bearings (22) and (23) of the holding- 
out clamp. One of these bearings (23) is fixed; the other is adjustable 
and provided with the clamp plate (17) and lever (18). 

Double eyebolts (4) are riveted to the rails at forward ends for shift¬ 
ing and in-tackles. 

A ribbed shelf (73) is secured to the side rails for the shield supports 
(70). The front shield supports (SO) are bolted to the coupling eyes (8) 
by the pivot bolt (10). 

The front trucks (5) and the shifting trucks (7) are plain. The rear 
training trucks are double and have mounted between them the pin¬ 
ion (27), which works in the rack of the rear training circle (71). 

The rack pinion is driven by a pinion (29) on the shaft of the power 
wheel (33), which is itself actuated by a pinion (32) on the end of the 
crank pinion shaft. 

The crank pinion shaft carries the pinion and crank handle at one 
end, and a cone (35) at the other. The cone is keyed on the shaft and 
has its bearing in the socket (36), cast in the training gear bracket. On 
the shaft between the pinion and the cone socket is a collar and a sleeve. 
The collar turns with the shaft; the sleeve is threaded and is keyed on. 
The lever is correspondingly threaded and turns on the sleeve. When 
thrown into action the sleeve is forced back against the casting, and 
the lever pressing against the collar forces the shaft to the rear, conse¬ 
quently bringing the cone firmly into its seat, thus producing the 
required friction. 

Holding-down clips (25) are bolted to the rear training-trucks bearing. 
They have a lip that takes under the flange of the deck circle. 

The holding-out clamp is for the purpose of holding the gun out in a 
seaway. It opposes sufficient friction to resist any inward motion due 
to motion of the ship, but offers no resistance to free recoil. It consists 
of a ratchet wheel (15) and a friction drum (16), mounted on the axle 
(14). Compression of the drum, and consequently of the axle and ratchet, 
is obtained by setting up on the lever (18), thus bringing the clamp 
plate (17) hard against the drum. 

The recoil cylinder is secured, as already described, between the rails, 
and projects some distance beyond the front transom. It is rifled with 
three grooves, so cut that in recoil the liquid, flowing around the piston 
head through the grooves, presents a constant resistance. This liquid 
is usually a mixture of glycerin and water in the proportion of four 
parts of the former to one of the latter. If glycerin is not available, 
water or oil may be used. The cylinder has a filling and a draining 
hole, both of which are closed by steel screw plugs. The head of the 
cylinder is screwed in. The rear end is fitted with a stuffing box. 

The carriage is pivoted to the port by a Y-yoke of forged steel. It 
is coupled to the carriage by the coupling bolts (10). 

Deck fittings .—The deck circles are arcs of 180°. The rear circle is 
graduated for concentration of fire for 500,1,000, 1,500, and 3,000 yards 
on the bow, beam, and quarter. A pointer which sweeps this gradu¬ 
ated circle in training is fixed to the rear training transom at the cen¬ 
ter line to facilitate training for concentration. 

The top carriage, which contains the trunnion seats (43), is built up of 
three castings riveted together, namely, the side brackets (41) and the 
transom (42). The latter is bent down toward the rear to permit eleva¬ 
tion of the gun. At the angle of the bend a heavy lug is cast on the 
bottom of the transom, to which the end of the piston rod is secured 


19 


by the securing nuts (67) and tlie locking nut (G8). On the left and also 
on the underneath side are east the lugs for the steel pawl (20). 

The top carriage has motion along the slide rails, friction being 
reduced by four rollers or trucks (48) under the front end of the carriage. 
The rear end rests on a dumb truck (49). These trucks are fitted under 
a shelf (46), which is bolted to the side bracket. Eyes are worked into 
the ends of the axles of the front and rear rollers (75) and (78) for the 
in-tackles and securing tackles. 

A lug for securing shackle (45) is cast on the trunnion seats. 

The elevating gears, of which there are two, one on each side, are 
bolted to the top carriage, and therefore recoil with the gun, a disad¬ 
vantage which is overcome in later designs. An inside pinion (55), that 
works in the arc (53) on the gun, is driven my means of a worm and 
worm wheel arranged as shown in the plate. To prevent shearing the 
teeth of the arc and pinion a friction gear is introduced which takes, 
iu part, the downward thrust of the gun at the instant of fire. The 
friction gear is arranged in this way: The arc pinion is coned to receive 
the cone on elevator axle; the other end of the axle is cut with a screw 
thread to receive a nut; on the left elevator a clamp wheel is put on 
the axle instead of a nut. The axle works in a steel sleeve which is 
flanged at the inner end, tin' flange bearing on the face of the arc pin¬ 
ion. When the nut or clamp wheel is set up it bears on the outer end of 
the sleeve, and the cone is thus drawn into its seat, exerting the nec¬ 
essary friction. 

In service only one elevator is used. The nut on the left elevator is 
set up moderately tight with a wrench and remains undisturbed except 
when the gear is removed for overhauling. The object of two gears is 
to have one ready in case of accident to the other. 

Wire breechings (79) are shackled to the top carriage and the front 
transom. They are provided to control the top carriage when for any 
reason the recoil is excessive. They are of such length as to check the 
recoil before undue strain is brought on any part of the recoil system 
or elevating gear. 


6-INCH GRAVITY RETURN BROADSIDE CARRIAGE. 

Plate II. 

This carriage is the same as the shifting carriage, with the following 
exceptions: 

(1) There are no shifting trucks. 

(2) The front trucks are scored to receive the lip of the front training 
circle. 

(3) The front clips are hung on the axles of the front trucks and 
take under the flanges of the deck circle. 

(4) The rear holding-down clips are bolted on the forward side of 
the rear training truck bearings. 

Protection .—A steel mantlet or shield 69 is bolted to the slide. The 
pattern is the same for both the shifting and broadside carriages. 

Securing for sea .—The Mark II carriages are secured for sea by lash¬ 
ings and turn buckles, as shown in Plate II, and by small bronze chock¬ 
ing quoins fitted to the deck circle on each side of the rear training 
trucks. The shifting carriage may be secured either fore and aft or 
athwartships, but the broadside carriage is secured athwartships. 


20 


Mark 111. 

G-INCH CENTRAL PIVOT CARRIAGE. 

Plate III. 

The 6-inch carriage No. 22 was the first central pivot mount, and all 
subsequent carriages have been of this design. The central pivot 
carriage differs radically in details and in deck fittings from those 
already described, but the essential features are the saine in all 
designs. It consists of three principal parts—the box slide, top car¬ 
riage, and the deck pivot and circles. The box slide is of cast steel 
and is built up of several pieces. It is composed of two brackets 
flanged and riveted together on the longitudinal center line of the 
carriage forming the sides and front vertical transom. The upper 
edge of the brackets are inclined at the front end at an angle of 10°. 
These edges are worked into the shape of T rails, upon which the top 
carriage moves. The brackets are stiffened by the training-gear tran¬ 
som and the rear transom, which are riveted between them. 

The slide rests on six trucks. The inner bearings for the front and 
side trucks are cast on the brackets. The outer bearings are separate 
castings and are riveted on. The bearings for the rear trucks are riveted 
on the rear transom, as is also the rear bearing for the training pinion. 
Each truck has a holding-down clip on its axle. 

Piston-rod lugs (9) are cast on the brackets. These lugs are provided 
with flanges (18), to which are bolted the shield top braces (74). Secur¬ 
ing eyes (20) are cast on the “pads” of the piston-rod lugs. 

On the front transom are secured with bolts and nuts the breeching 
springs (14), the counter-recoil bumpers (13), and the holding-out cone, 
etc. (7). 

This cone compressor has the same function as the holding-out clamp 
on the Mark II carriages. A bronze casting (7) is bolted on the front 
transom. This casting has on its face a pair of .lugs each of which is 
bored with a conical hole into which seat steel cones. One of the cones 
is rigidly fixed on the axle; the other is removable. A ratchet wheel 
is keyed on the axle between the lugs. It receives the pawl which is 
hung on the front transom of the top carriage. By setting up on a nut 
which screws on the free end of the axle, the cones are forced into their 
seats, thus giving the friction required to keep the ratchet wheel from 
turning freely. 

The training gear which is fixed to the slide consists of a longitudinal 
pinion shaft (64), having a pinion (68) on the rear end and a worm wheel 
(62) on the front end. The pinion shaft has its bearings on the rear 
transom (65) and on the training transom. A cross shaft (58) carries the 
worm (61) and has its bearings (56) in the brackets. On the outer ends 
of the training worm shaft are spur wheels (60), which engage a second 
pair of spur wheels (57) on the training crank shaft. The spur wheels 
(57) and (60) are the same diameter, and therefore no power is gained by 
the second pair, but the point of application of the power is shifted to 
a more convenient position. 

The top carriage is a bronze casting consisting of the brackets (2), 
trunnion seats (22), vertical transom (28), and the recoil cylinders (30). 
A guide with side clips (29) is planed out under each recoil cylinder to 
take the T rails of the box slide. The recoil cylinders are fitted with 
a bonnet at the rear end and a stuffing box at the front end. Each 
cylinder is rifled with three grooves of varying cross section and the 


21 


recoil is checked in the same manner as in the mounts already described. 
A small circulating pipe of copper (34) connects the cylinders at the 
front end. This pipe assures the same amount of liquid in each cylin 
der and hence the same pressure, a necessary consideration for a smooth, 
and even recoil. The piston rods are secured to the lugs (9) by steel 
washers and nuts. The piston heads are of bronze and are screwed on 
the rod. They fit the cylinders loosely. 

The cylinders are provided with filling and draining holes. 

Lugs for preventer breechings are cast on the under side of the floor 
transom, and there is also a pair of heavy lugs for the holding-out pawl 
cast on the front vertical transom. 

This transom is cut out to allow a depression of 7°. In later car¬ 
riages a depression of 10° is provided for. A securing lug (20) and a 
securing eye (27) are cast on the recoil cylinder. 

The elevating gear .—By attaching the handwheel and shaft to the 
slide instead of to the top carriage, as in the earlier mounts, vertical 
train may be continued to the instant of fire. Two longitudinal shafts, 
one on each side, have their bearings on the brackets, as shown in the 
plate. The front ends of the shaft carry the miter wheels (48), which 
gear into the miter wheels (52) on the ends of the transverse shaft (51). 
In this way motion of one handwheel gives simultaneous motion to the 
other. 

The elevator brackets, which are dovetailed on the top carriage in 
rear of the recoil cylinder, are held in place by a small set screw. They 
are bronze castings, which form the bearing for the elevator axle. This 
axle carries the arc pinion (41) on one end and the worm wheel (44) on the 
other. A friction disk (42) is screwed and keyed on the axle and bears 
on the inner face of the worm wheel. A similar disk (44) bears on the 
inner face of the worm wheel. This outer disk is removable, but is 
kept from turning on the axle by the key just mentioned. These disks 
are brought to bear hard against the worm wheel by setting up on the 
nut which is screwed on the end of the axle. The elevator bracket on 
the side is shaped in two lugs, which form the bearing (40) of the ele¬ 
vator worm. The elevator worm shaft passes through the worm, as 
shown in the plate. This shaft is slotted its entire length to receive 
the feather on the worm. Motion of the handwheel (50) imparts vertical 
motion to the gun through the medium of the worm, worm wheel, and 
pinion. When the gun is fired the elevator bracket and worm recoil 
along the worm shaft. 

Preventer wire breechings are shackled to the top carriage and box 
slide. 

Deck fittings .—The deck pivot and circles upon which the central 
pivot carriage is mounted is a heavy steel casting consisting of the 
pivot, clip rail, and front deck circle. The circle is the path for the 
front and side trucks. 

The rear deck-circle casting comprises the path for the rear trucks, 
the rack for the training pinion, and the path for the shield trucks. 
In the case of 180° deck circles the path for the shield trucks is con¬ 
tinued around the pivot by the bronze circles (79). 

Deck circles may be either 180° or 300°, and all circles, pivots, and 
carriages are interchangeable. 


22 


Mark IY. 

6-INCH CENTRAL PIVOT CARRIAGE. 

Plate IV. 

In this mark the box slide is a single casting. This mode of con¬ 
struction began with No. 44, and that carriage, therefore, marks the 
great improvement in the manufacture of steel castings. The slide of 
Mark I, built in 1884, was composed of twenty different pieces, while 
the slide of Mark IY combines in one casting all the truck bearings, 
transoms, shield shelves, and securing eyes. In later carriages of this 
mark it was found expedient to cast the piston-rod lugs separately and 
rivet them on. With the exception of the box slide being a single 
casting, Mark IY is identical in all respects with Mark III. 

Securing for sea .—When secured for sea in fore-and-aft position, 
guns on C. P. mounts are secured by front and rear wire gripes, the 
front ones being set up by the turn-buckles and the rear ones by lash¬ 
ings. When secured athwartships the rear gripes are fitted with 
lashings. No forward gripes are used, but a turn-buckle is hooked in 
the securing lug on the top carriage and in a clip which takes under 
the flange of the deck circle. 

Shields. —The shields for the 0. P. carriages,-Mark III and Mark IY, 
may be either inclined or vertical, with or without tops, 84 inches or 
100 inches in diameter. The vertical shields are without tops and are 
designed for carriages placed in sponsons. They are of forged steel, 
with a port sufficient to allow 12° elevation and 10° depression. The 
inclined segmental shields, 100 inches in diameter, are built up and 
consist of a vertical plate (70), inclined top (71), wings (72), and a tran¬ 
som (73). These parts are riveted together. 

Shields are secured to the slide by bronze braces riveted to the shields 
and set up with screw bolts to the slide. The spongers and rammers 
are secured under the top of the inclined shield and to the brackets of 
the slide when the carriage is fitted with vertical shields. 

8-INCH CARRIAGES. 

There arc at present four marks, not including the turret mount 
and the recently designed spring return carriage. The same general 
features of the 0-inch mounts pertain to the mounts for the 8-inch guns. 
The method of controlling recoil, of holding the gun out in a seaway, 
and in a general way the elevating and training gears are almost identi¬ 
cal. The first carriages were designed for the Boston and Atlanta , and 
from the manner of emplacement on deck are styled barbette carriages. 
The next design was the so-called half-turret carriage of the Chicago , 
and these were followed by the central pivot mounts at present installed 
on board the Charleston and Baltimore. 

Mark I. 

THE 8-INCII BARBETTE CARRIAGE. 

Plate V. 

The slide consists of two side brackets (I), front and rear vertical 
transoms (2) and (4), front and rear bottom transoms (3) and (5), and the 
pivot transom (G). 


23 


Brackets .—Each side bracket is built up of two rolled iron plates, 
between which is riveted a bronze frame. On the outside of the 


brackets are riveted the side truck bearings and platform (16) and the 
front shield side supports (80), also the side shelves (22), for the shield 
supports. On the top of each side bracket of the slide is riveted the 
rail casting (9), in which are mounted six rollers, upon which the top 
carriage recoils. This casting, which is called the roller bearing and 
guide, has flanged rails, which form a guide for the rails of the top car¬ 


nage. 


Front transom .—Between the side brackets forward is riveted the 
plate (2). It has cast on it the lugs for the piston rods, the bosses for 
the counter-recoil bumpers, and the combined clip and securing shackle 
(83). The holding-out gear (11) and (12) is placed on the transom, as in 
6-incli 0. P. mounts. A securing eye is cast on the piston-rod lugs, and 
a training eye (17) on the side truck bearings. 

Front bottom transom (3) is riveted to the front vertical transom and 
side brackets. The front truck bearings and the front bearing for the 
training shaft are in one with this casting. 

The rear transoms are riveted between the side brackets and give 
additional stiffness to the carriage. 

The pivot-socket casting has at the base a securing nut (78). At the 
head there is a flange which is set in the deck and bolted. The deck 
circle and rack casting is bolted to this flange. Inside the pivot socket 
casting is a hollow bronze pivot bolt (75), having a flange at the head 
and a pivot nut (77) at its base. Mounted on the pivot casting is the 
pivot transom (6), which carries the worm shaft backer (8) and the worm 
shaft bearings (7). The flanges of this transom are riveted to the side 


brackets. 

The top carriage is built up and is in all respects similar to that of 
6-incli Marks III and IY. 

The elevating gear is the same as 6-incli Mark II. 

The training gear .—The carriage may be trained either by hand or 
steam. 

(a.) Steam gear .—Motive power is furnished by a simple duplex engine 
on the orlop deck. The main shaft of this engine has a bevel gear which 
drives a similar gear on a vertical hollow shaft which extends up through 
the central pivot of the carriage. The upper end of this shaft has a 
large bevel gear just over the pivot transom. This gear meshes into a 
small bevel gear on a transverse shaft, the latter having on each end a 
small pinion inside the side bracket. Each of these pinions gears into 
an intermediate spur wheel which actuates the large power wheel on 
the training worm shaft. 

The transverse shaft carries a worm as shown. The shaft has its 
bearings in the brackets and is also supported by the worm bearings 
which are cast on the pivot transom. 

The worm drives the worm wheel on the end of the training shaft (50). 


The training pinion (51) is keyed on the shaft about halfway between its 
bearing in the front transom and the worm wheel. The inner end of 
this training shaft has a bearing on the pivot transom and in the worm 
shaft backer (8). 

On the transverse shaft (68) is a toothed clutch which is worked by 
a lever (69) extending to the rear of the carriage. The clutch is used 
for disconnecting the steam gear when it is desired to train by hand. 
This lever is pivoted in a bearing on one of the rear transoms. Train¬ 
ing by steam is accomplished by the following gear: A long rod 
extending down through the hollow shaft (63) is connected at its 


24 


lower end with a system of levers which actuates the reversing link of 
the engine valve gear. This rod has its upper end fitted with a regu¬ 
lating screw, which works in a nut cast on the lower hub of the bevel 
gear (67), which is revolved by a bevel pivion (71) on an inclined hand- 
wheel shaft extending to the rear of the carriage and conveniently 
accessible. Vertical motion of the rod, by which the engine is started, 
stopped, or reversed, is obtained by the maneuvering gears (70), which 
work in this way: The bevel pinion on the end of inclined shaft re¬ 
volves the nut on the bevel wheel, thus raising or lowering the rod. 
A slotted stop on the end of the rod limits its play. 

The hand training gear is fitted on both sides of the carriage and 
consists of handwheels, shafts (59), and pinions (58). The pinions gear 
into the intermediate spurwheels of the steam gear. The handwheel 
shafts are supported in brackets (60) on the outside of the slide. 

The shield is built up of a number of plates braced and supported as 
shown in the drawing. 

Securing for sea .—The gun and carriage are secured with three sets 
of heavy gripes and lashings and a turn-buckle. 

Maek II. 

8-INCH HALF TURRET CARRIAGE. 

Plate VI. 

The brackets are composite, consisting of bronze and wrought iron 
]dates riveted together. As in the barbette carriage, the vertical and 
front and rear training transoms are separate castings, which are riv¬ 
eted to the side brackets, the whole structure forming the slide. The 
front training transom has a boss which fits over the pivot socket, on 
which it is pivoted by a hollow bolt. This transom has cast on it three 
pairs of lugs for the front and side trucks. 

The rear training transom is a curved casting with bearings for the 
after trucks and facings for the training-gear brackets. At the center 
is a socket for securing bolt. 

The training gear is the same as that on the 6-inch shifting carriage. 

The top carriage is similar in all respects to the top carriage of 
Mark I. 

The elevating gear is similar to that on the 6 inch Marks III and IV, 
but differs in having the elevating crank handle on the transverse 
shaft instead of on the end of the longitudinal shaft. This arrange¬ 
ment is on account of the limited space. 

Deck fittings .—These consist of a pivot socket and pivot bolt. The 
former has a flange to which is bolted the clip circle and roller path. 
The lower end of the pivot socket is fitted with a securing nut (72). 

The deck circle (77) comprises the clip circle, rack and roller path, 
and the socket for the securing bolt. 

Mark III. 

8-INCII CENTRAL-PIVOT CARRIAGE. 

Plate VII. 

The side brackets are steel castings, of which the upper edge is flared 
in T shape rails and inclined 10°, as in other mounts. The brackets 
are stiffened and held together by four transverse steel transoms. The 


pivot transom lias a circular boss which fits on the deck pivot. The 
truck bearings are riveted on. 

The training-gear transom is riveted to the brackets. The gear is 
somewhat different in details from those previously described. It con¬ 
sists of two short transverse shafts carrying hand cranks and pinions. 
The pinions gear into spur wheels on the end of the worm shaft, which 
has bearings on the training gear transom. The worm wheel is keyed 
on a short longitudinal pinion shaft. Both bearings of the pinion 
shaft are cast on the training-gear transom. 

The top carriage is a single bronze casting comprising the recoil 
cylinders, trunnion seats, guide rails, and transom. The casting is 
provided with the usual securing eyes, lugs for preventer breechings, 
and lugs for holding-out pawl. 

The elevator-gear brackets are dovetailed on the carriage in rear of 
the cylinder, and, with the exception that the handwheels are mounted 
on studs provided with spur wheels outside the main shaft and mesh¬ 
ing into pinions on the end of the main shaft, the gear is the same as 
that on 6-incli Mark IV. 

The shield is the segment of a cylinder with inclined top. It is 
bolted to the slide and has no trucks. 

Mark IV. 

8-INCH CENTRAL-PIVOT CARRIAGE. 

This carriage is the same in all details as Mark III, described above, 
except that the box slide is a single casting embracing all transoms- 
truck bearings, securing eyes, etc. There are two pairs of counter, 
recoil bumpers. 

Shields for Marks III and IV consist of a vertical segmental plate, 
2 inches thick, and a slightly inclined liat-top plate, 1 inch thick. These 
plates are riveted together and braced and secured to the slide as 
shown in Plate vn. 


26 


NOMENCLATURE 6 AND 8 INCH GUN MOUNTS, ORDINARY TYPE. 

NOMENCLATURE OF 6-INCH GRAVITY RETURN SHIFTING CARRIAGE, 

MARK II. 

Plate I. * 


Slide. 

1. Rails. 

2. Front transom. 

3. Bumpers (with bolts and nuts) coun¬ 

ter recoil. 

4. Forward double eyebolts (shifting). 

5. Front training trucks, with axles and 

pins. 

6. Front training-truck bearings. 

7. Front shifting trucks, with axles and 

pins. 

8. Coupling eyes. 

9. Yoke with two coupling holes and 

one pivot hole. 

10. Coupling bolts (2). 

11. Pivot bolt. 

12. Pivot socket. 

Holding-out clamp. 

14. Axle. 

15. Ratchet wheel. 

16. Friction drum, with flange. (Not 

shown.) 

17. Clamp plate (inclosing drum). 

18. Lever. 

19. Lever bolt. 

20. Clutch. 

21. Clutch bolt and nut. 

22. Drum bearing. 

23. Axle bearing. 

o y 

24. Rear transom. 

25. Rear holding-down clip. 

26. Rear trucks, with axles and pins. 

27. Rack pinions. 

28. Rear training-gear standard (with 

hooking lugs and bolts). 

29. Training pinion. 

30. Training-pinion shaft and nut. 

31. Front holding-down clip. 

32. Crank-pinion shaft and nut. 

33. Power wheel and pin. 

Training gear. 

35. Cone brake. 

36. Cone socket. 

37. Sleeve. 

38. Lever handle. 

39. Crank-pinion cover (with guide slot 

for lever handle). 

40. Crank. 


Tra i n in g gear — Continued. 

69. Shield. 

70. Side supports of shield. 

73. Shelf and ribs for side supports of 

shield. 

74. Shifting-truck bearings. 

76. In-tackle eyebolts. 

77. Train-tackle eyebolts. 

79. Breeching. 

80. Front-shield supports. 

81. Breeching springs. 

Top carriage. 

41. Brackets. 

42. Transom. 

43. Trunnion seats. 

44. Cap square and bolts. 

45. Securing lugs and shackles. 

46. Truck shelves w r itk ribs. 

47. Outside guide flanges. 

48. Front trucks, with axles and nuts. 

49. Rear (dumb) truck. 

51. Clutch lugs. 

53. Elevator arcs, with bolts. 

54. Elevator arc guides and nuts. 

55. Inside pinions. 

56. Worm wheel, with cone axle, nut, 

and clamp w r heel. 

57. Worms and axles, with washers and 

nuts. 

58. Elevator handwheels, with nuts. 

59. Elevator gear covers, with lugs and 

bolts. (Not shown.) 

75. In-tackle eyebolts. 

78. Securing eyebolts. 

Cylinder. 

60. Cylinder. 

61. Cylinder transom. 

62. Cylinder flange, with bolts. 

63. Cylinder head. 

64. Cylinder piston. 

65. Cylinder piston rod. 

66. Stuffing box or gland. 

67. Piston-rod securing nuts and rear 

collar nut. 

68. Locking nut. 

71. Rear-training circle and rack. 

72. Front-training circle. 








27 


NOMENCLATURE OF 6-INCH GRAVITY RETURN BRCLVDSIDE CARRIAGE 

MARK II. 

Plate II. 


Slide. 

1. Rails. 

2. Front transom. 

3. Bumpers (with holts and nuts), 

•counter recoil. 

4. Front double eyebolts (securing). 

5. Front trucks, Avitli axles and pins. 

6. Front truck bearings. 

7. Front and rear holding-down clips. 

8. Coupling eyes. 

9. Yoke, with 2 coupling holes and 1 

pivot hole. 

10. Coupling bolts (2). 

11. Pivot bolt. 

12. Pivot-bolt socket. 

Holding-out clamp. 

14. Axle. 

15. Ratchet wheel. 

16. Friction drum, with flange. 

17. Clamp plate. 

18. Lever. 

19. Lever bolt. 

20. Clutch. 

21. Clutch bolt and nut. 

22. Drum bearing. 

23. Axle bearing. 

24. Rear transom. 

26. Rear trucks (4). > With axles and 

27. Rack pinions (2). ( pins. 

28. Training-gear standard, with hook¬ 

ing lugs and bolts. 

29. Training pinion. 

30. Training-pinion shaft and nut. 

31. Power wheel and pin. 

32. Crank pinion. 

33. Crank-pinion shaft and nut. 

34. Cone brake. 

35. Cone. 

36. Cone socket (in training-gear cast¬ 

ing)- 

37. Cone sleeve. 

38. Lever handle. 

39. Crank-pinion cover, with guide slot 

for lever handle. 

40. Crank. 


Top carriage. 

41. Brackets. 

42. Transom. 

43. Trunnion seats. 

44. Cap squares and bolts. 

45. Securing lugs, with shackles. 

46. Truck shelves, with ribs. 

47. Outside guide flanges. 

48. Front trucks (8), with axles and nuts. 

49. Rear (dumb) trucks, axles, washers, 

and nuts. 

51. Clutch lugs. 

53. Elevator arcs (2), with bolts. 

54. Elevator-arc guides (2), with nuts. 

55. Inside pinions. 

56. Worm wheels (2), with cone axle, 

nut, and clamp wheel. 

57. Worms and axles (2), with washers 

and nuts. 

58. Elevator handwheels (2), with nuts. 

59. Elevator gear covers (2), with lugs 

and bolts. (Not show r n.) 

Cylinder. 

60. Cylinder (rifled). 

61. Cylinder transom. 

62. Cylinder flange, with bolts. 

63. Cylinder head. 

64. Cylinder piston. 

65. Piston rod. 

66. Stuffing box or gland. 

67. Piston-rod-securing nuts and collar 

nut. 

68. Piston-rod-locking nut. 

69. Shield. 

70. Front training circle, with flange for 

holding-down clips. 

71. Rear training circle and rack and/in 

some cases, holding-down clips. 

72. Securing turn-buckles, with hooks, 

shackles, bolts, and nuts. 

73. Side supports to shield. 

74. Shelf for supports to shield, with 

ribs. 

75. Front supports to shield. 

76. Breeching. 

77. Breeching springs. 






28 


NOMENCLATURE OF 6-INCH CENTER PIVOT CARRIAGE, MARKS ill AND IV. 

Plates III and IV. 


Slide. 

1. Prackets. 

2. Front vertical transom. 

3. Training transom, with shaft hear¬ 

ings. 

4. Rear transom, with rear-truck hear¬ 

ings and training-shaft bearing. 

5. Pivot transom, with front and side 

truck hearings. 

6. Slide rails. 

7. Holding-out cone clamp, axle, and 

nut. 

8. Ratchet wheel. 

9. Piston-rod lugs. 

10. Front truck, with axle and pin. 

11. Side trucks, with axles and pins. 

12. Rear trucks, with axles and pins. 

13. Counter-recoil bumpers, with bolts 

and nuts. 

14. Breeching springs, with bolts and 

nuts. 

15. Breeching. 

16. Holding-down clips. 

17. Lower braces for shield, with shield 

trucks, bearings, axles, and pins. 

18. Lug for upper-shield braces. 

19. Training eyebolts. (Not shown.) 

20. Securing eye. 

Top carriage. 

21. Bracket. 

22. Trunnion seat. 

23. Cap square and bolts. 

24. Breeching shackles, bolts, and nuts. 

25. Holding-out pawl, box, and pin. 

26. Securing lug. 

27. Securing eye. 

28. Top-carriage transom. 

29. Top-carriage guide, with side clips. 

30. Recoil cylinders. 

31. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

32. Recoil-cylinder filling plug. 

33. Recoil-cylinder emptying plug. (Not 

shown.) 

34. Recoil-cylinder circulating pipe. 

35. Pistons. (Not shown.) 

36. Piston rod. 

37. Piston-rod stuffing box and gland 

nut. 

38. Piston-rod securing nuts. 

39. Piston-rod locking nuts. 

Elevating gear. 

40. Elevator arc and screw bolts (on gun). 

41. Elevator pinion and nuts. 

42. Friction disk, with axle, bearing, and 

nut. 

43. Elevator worm wheel. 


Elevating gear —Continued. 

44. Friction disk. 

45. Elevator worm. 

46. Elevator-worm bearing. 

47. Elevator-worm shaft. 

48. Elevator-worm-shaft miter wheels, 

with nuts. 

49. Elevator-worm-shaft bearings, front 

and rear, with bolts and nuts. 

50. Elevator handwheels and nuts. 

51. Transverse shaft. 

52. Transverse shaft miter wheels and 

nuts. 

53. Transverse-shaft bearings. (Not 

shown.) 

Training gear. 

54. Training crank, with keeper pin. 

55. Training-crank sliait. 

56. Training-crank-shaft journals. 

57. Training-crank-shaft spur wheels. 

58. Training-worm shaft. 

59. Training-worm-shaft journals. (Not 

shown.) 

60. Training-worm-shaft spur wheels. 

61 Training worm. 

62. Training-worm wheel. 

63. Training-worm-wheel set screw. 

64. Training-pinion shaft. 

65. Training-pinion-shaft journals. 

66. Training-pinion-shaft guide screw. 

67. Training-pinion-shaft guide-screw 

groove. 

68. Training pinion. 

69. Training-pinion-shaft backing slot. 

• Shield. 

70. Segmental shield. 

70. (Mark IV.) Vertical shield. 

71. Shield top. 

71. (Mark IV.) Shield cross brace. 

72. Shield wings. 

72. (Mark IV.) Shield top brace. 

73. Shield transom. 

73. (Mark IV.) Shield port. 

74. Shield top braces 

75. Shield port. 

Deck fittings. 

76. (Mark IV, 74.) Combined pivot, clip 

rail, and front-truck circle. 

77. (Mark IV, 75.) Pivot nut. 

78. (Mark IV, 76.) Combined rear-truck 

circle, training rack, and clip rail. 

79. (Mark IV, 77.) Shield-truck circle. 

80. (Mark IV, 78.) Holding-down bolts 

and screws. 






29 

NOMENCLATURE OF 8-INCH BARBETTE CARRIAGE, MARK I. 

Plate V. 


Slide. 

1. Brackets. 

2. Front vertical transom. 

3. Front bottom transom, with front 

truck bearings. 

4. Rear vertical transom. 

5. Rear bottom transom. 

6. Pivot transom. 

7. Worm-shaft bearings. 

8. Worm-shaft backer. 

9. Roller bearing and guide. 

10. Rollers, with axles and set screws 

(dumb trucks). 

11. Holding-out cone clamp, axle, and 

nut. 

12. Ratchet wheel. 

13. Piston-rod lugs. 

14. Front trucks, with axles and pins. 

15. Side trucks, with axles and pins. 

16. Side-truck bearings, with platform. 

17. Training eyebolt. 

18. Front bumpers, with bolts and nuts 

(counter recoil). 

19. Breeching springs, with bolts and 

nuts. 

20. Breeching. 

21. Holding-down clips. 

22. Side shelves for shield supports. 

Top carriage. 

23. Recoil cylinders. 

24. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

25. Recoil-cylinder guide, with side clips. 

26. Recoil-cylinder tilling plugs. (Not 

shown). 

27. Top-carriage trausoin. 

28. Piston. (Not shown.) 

29. Piston rod. 

30. Piston-rod stuffing box and gland nut. 

31. Piston-rod securing nuts. 

32. Piston-rod locking nuts. 

33. Bracket. 

34. Trunnion seat. 

35. Cap squares. 

36. Cap square bolts. 

37. Breeching shackle bolts and nuts. 

38. Holdiug-out pawl box and pin. 

Elevating gear. 

39. Stand for elevator gear. 

40. Elevator arc. 

41. Elevator-arc bolt. 

42. Elevator-arc guide. 

43. Elevator pinion. 

44. Elevator worm. 

45. Elevator-worm wheel. 

46. Elevator-worm-wheel shaft and cone 

brake. 

47. Elevator handwheel. 

48. Elevator clamp wheel. 


Elevating gear —Continued. 

49. Elevator clamp nut. 

Training gear. 

50. Training shaft. 

51. Training pinion. 

52. Training circle. 

53. Training-worm wheel. 

54. Training worm. 

55. Training-worm shaft. 

56. Training power wheel. 

57. Training idler wheel, stud, and nut. 

58. Hand-training pinion, with nut. 

59. Hand-training shaft and crank. 

60. Hand-training-shaft bearing. 

61. Training engine. 

62. Lower bevel wheels and pillow block. 

63. Vertical sectional shaft. 

64. Vertical sectional shaft pedestal. 

65. Shaft coupling. 

66. Clutch couplings, with sleeves. 

67. Upper bevel wheels. 

68. Cross shaft, with connecting bevel 

coupling wheel. 

69. Connecting coupling clutch, with 

lever. 

70. Maneuvering gears. 

71. Bevel pinion. 

72. Link rod. 

73. Rock shaft and arms (lower and 

upper). 

74. Link connecting rods (lower and 

upper). 

Pivot. 

75. Pivot bolt. 

76. Pivot socket. 

77. Pivot nut. 

78. Pivot-socket nut. 

Shield. 

79. Front shield. 

80. Front-shield side supports. 

81. Rear shield. 

82. Rear-shield side supports. 

Securing gear. 

83. Securing shackle, with clip and 

screw bolts. 

84. Securing socket. 

85. Securing bolt. 

86. Holding-out turn-buckle, connecting 

eyebolt on cylinder and one on 
piston-rod lug. 

87. Side turn-buckle, connecting lug on 

cylinder to clevis bolt in deck. 

88. Breech lashing. 

89. Chase lashing. 

90. Muzzle lashing. 



30 


NOMENCLATURE OF 8-INCH HALF TURRET CARRIAGE, MARK II. 
* Plate VI. 


Slide. 

1. Brackets. 

2. Front vertical transom. 

3. Pivot transom, with truck hearings. 

4. Rear transom, with rear and training 

truck bearings. 

5. Slide rails. 

6. Holding-out cone, clamp, axle, and 

nut. 

7. Ratchet wheel. 

8. Piston-rod lugs. 

9. Front truck, with axle and pin. 

10. Side trucks, with axles and pins. 

11. Training and rear trucks, with axles 

and pins. 

12. Counter-recoil bumpers, with holts 

and nuts. 

13. Breeching springs, with holts and nuts. 

14. Breeching. 

15. Holding-down clips. 

16. Side shelves for shield supports. 

17. Lug for shield. 

18. Training eyeholts. 

19. Securing eye. 

Top carriage. 

20. Recoil cylinders. 

21. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

22. Recoil-cylinder guide, with side clips. 

23. Recoil-cylinder filling plugs. (Not 

shown.) 

24. Recoil-cylinder emptying plugs. (Not 

shown.) 

25. Recoil-cylinder circulating pipe. 

26. Top-carriage transom. 

27. Piston. (Not shown.) 

28. Piston rod. 

29. Piston-rod stuffing box and gland nut. 

30. Piston-rod securing nuts. 

31. Piston-rod locking nuts. 

32. Bracket. 

33. Trunnion seat. 

34. Cap squares. 

35. Cap-square bolts. 

36. Breeching shackle, bolts, and nuts. 

37. Holding-out pawl, box, and pin. 

38. Securing lug. 

39. Securing eye, 

Elevating gear. 

40. Elevator arc and bolts. 

41. Elevator pinion and nut. 

42. Friction disk, with axle bearing and 

nut. 


Elevating gear —Continued. 

43. Friction disk. (Not shown.) 

44. Elevating-worm wheel. 

45. Elevating worm. 

46. Elevating-worm bearing. 

47. Elevating-worm shaft. 

48. Elevating-worm-shaft miter wheels. 

49. Elevating-worm-shaft bearings, front 

and rear. 

50. Transverse shaft. 

51. Transverse-shaft miter wheels. * 

52. Transverse-shaft bearings. (Not 

shown.) 

53. Elevating crank. 

Training gear. 

54. Training-gear standard, with locking 

lugs and bolts. 

55. Training pinion. (Not shown.) 

56. Training-pinion shaft and nut. (Not 

shown.) 

57. Power wheel and pin. 

58. Crank pinion. 

59. Crank-pinion shaft and nut. 

60. Cone brake. (Not shown.) 

61. Cone. (Not shown.) 

62. Cone socket (in training gear cast¬ 

ing). (Not shown.) 

63. Cone sleeve. (Not shown.) 

64. Lever handle. 

65. Crank-pinion cover, with guide slot 

for lever handle. 

66. Crank. 

Shield. 

67. Shield. 

68. Shield side supports. 

69. Shield lugs, front and rear, with nuts 

and bolts. 

70. Shield transom. 

Deck fittings , 

71. Pivot socket. 

72. Pivot-socket nut. 

73. Pivot bolt. 

74. Pivot nut. 

75. Clip circle. 

76. Pivot-truck circle. 

77. Training circle, with rack and clip. 

78. Securing pivot and socket. 

79. Clevis bolts and sockets. (Not 

shown.) 




31 

NOMENCLATURE OF 8-INCH CENTER PIVOT CARRIAGE, MARKS III AND IV 

( 

Plate VII. 


Slide. 

1. Brackets. 

3. Front bottom transom, with front 

truck bearings. 

4. Training transom. 

5. Rear bottom transom. 

6. Pivot transom. 

7. Worm-shaft bearings. 

8. Worm-shaft backer. 

9. Guide. 

11. Holding-out cone, clamp, axle, and 

nut. 

12. Ratchet wheel. 

13. Piston-rod lugs. 

14. Front trucks, with axles and pins. 

15. Side trucks, with axles and pins. 

16. Side-truck bearings, with platform. 

17. Training eyebolt. 

18. Front bumpers, with bolts and nuts 

(counter recoil). 

19. Breeching springs, with bolts and 

nuts. 

20. Breeching. 

21. Holding-down clips. 

22. Side shelves for shield supports. 

Top carriage. 

23. Recoil cylinders. 

24. Recoil-cylinder bonnet. 

25. Recoil-cylinder guide, with side clips. 

26. Recoil-cylinder tilling plugs. 

27. Top-carriage transom. 

28. Piston. (Not shown.) 

29. Piston rod. (Not shown.) 

30. Piston-rod stuffing box and gland nut. 

31. Piston-rod securing nuts. 


32. Piston-rod loci ling nuts. 

33. Bracket. 

34. Trunnion seat. 

35. Cap squares. 

36. Cap-square bolts. 

37. Breeching shackle bolts and nuts. 

38. Holding-out pawl box and pin. 

Elevating gear. 

39. Stand for elevator gear. 

40. Elevator arc. 

41. Elevator-arc bolt. 

42. Elevator power wheel and pinion. 

43. Elevator pinion. 

44. Elevator worm. 

45. Elevator-worm wheel. 

46. Elevator-worm wheel shaft. 

47. Elevator handwheel. 

48. Elevator shaft. 

49. Elevator cross shaft. 

Training gear . 

50. Training shaft. 

51. Training pinion. 

52. Training circle. 

53. Training-worm wheel. 

54. Training worm. 

55. Training-worm'shaft. 

56. Training power wheel. 

58. Training pinion, with nut. 

59. Training shaft and crank. 

Shield. 

79. Front shield. 

80. Front-shield side supports. 

81. Top shield. 

82. Top-shield side supports. 


# 


















' 




















































































Plate I 















































































































































































































Plate 2. 






















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Plate 5 









































































































































































































































































































































































Sis! 




































































itsEu mmm 













































































PLATE 6 





























































































































































JiatcM. 


CENTER PIVOT CARRIAGE 


8-inch B. L. FL 
MARKS III and IV. 



































































































































































































































































































































TURRET MOUNTS. 


8-INCH TURRET MOUNT, MARK V. 

This type of carriage lias 1 been adopted, for the 8-inch guns of the 
.New York and the Olympia. They are similar to the service broadside 
8-inch carriages, with the exception that but one recoil cylinder is used 
instead of two, and this cylinder is placed under the gun. 

The mount consists of the following principal parts: 

The top carriage, fig. 1, Plate i. 

The recoil cylinder, fig. 9, Plate 11 . 

The box slide, fig. 18, Plate hi. 

The ammunition hoist, Plate iv. 

General plans of turret and mounts, Plates y, yi, and yn. 

THE TOP CARRIAGE, PLATE I. 

The top carriage, fig. 1, is a bronze casting carrying the gun in the 
trunnion seats (fig. G) and sliding on the box slide (fig. 18, Plate in), 
to which it is held against vertical movement by holding-down clamps 
(fig. 3). A lug (fig. 2) is cast in one with the top carriage, to which is 
secured the end of the recoil piston rod. Lugs (fig. 4) for the elevat¬ 
ing shaft form part of this casting. In the forward, part of the top 
carriage are placed four friction rollers, two on each side, which travel 
on the inclined rails of the box slide. A buffer (fig. 7) coming against a 
corresponding buffer on the box slide brings the carriage to rest when 
the gun is returned to battery. 

TnE RECOIL CYLINDER, PLATE II. 

\ . 

This is a steel casting (fig. 9) securely bolted to the box slide by the 
flanges (fig. 17) on each side. In this cylinder works the recoil piston 
(fig. 14) and the piston rod (fig 15). The ends of the cylinder are closed 
by heads or bonnets (figs. 10 and 11) screwed in, and a stuffing box 
(fig. 12) about the piston rod. Nuts (fig. 1G) secure the piston rod to a 
lug (fig. 2, Plate i) on the top carriage. Three grooves are cut on the 
inner surface of the cylinder, which permit the slow passage of the 
liquid with which the cylinder is filled from one side of the recoil ins- 
ton, thus gradually checking the recoil of the gun and top carriage. In 
the position shown in the drawing the piston is at the forward end of 
the cylinder and the gun is assumed to be ready for firing. 

THE BOX SLIDE, PLATE til. 

The box slide, or lower carrriage, is a heavy steel casting bolted to 
the floor of the turret and to the turret girders. The top carriage 

11G5 G M -3 33 




34 


travels on the upper inclined rails of the box slide. The recoil cylin¬ 
der is bolted to flanges (fig. 19) cast in one with the box slide. 

Counter-recoil bumpers are secured to the forward end of the slide 
(fig. 20). 

AMMUNITION HOIST, PLA'J E IV. 

The turret ammunition hoist consists of the ammunition car (fig. 21), 
ammunition guides (figs. 20 and 27), swinging crane (fig. 29), the hand- 
hoisting mechanism (fig. 31), and the electro-hoisting motor and mech¬ 
anism (fig. 34). 

The guides (figs. 20 and 27) are bronze castings secured to the turret 
floor by braces (fig. 28) and to the lower end of the ammunition tube 
(not shown in the drawing), and turn with the tube and turret. The 
rollers of the ammunition car travel in these guides. 

The ammunition car (fig. 21) consists of three bronze cylinders revolv¬ 
ing about a central axis, suspended by a yoke (fig. 22). The powder 
charge is in two sections, and is carried in the two larger cylinders 
(fig. 24). The projectile is carried in the small cylinder (fig. 23). 

The ammunition car travels in the guides, in the central part of the 
tube, and is hoisted in the turret between the guns. When the car 
reaches the upper ends of the guides it is swung clear by the crane 
(fig. 29) and is carried by this crane to the rear of either gun. As but 
one car can be used for the ammunition the guns must be loaded 
alternately. 

Provision is made for hoisting ammunition by either hand or elec¬ 
trical powder. The electric motor operates by means of a worm and 
gearing, a drum around which is wound wire rope, running over the 
rollers in the crane and secured to the ammunition car. 

The electric motor is used for both hoisting and lowering the ammu¬ 
nition car. When the hand mechanism is used for hoisting, the car 
can be lowered by means of a friction brake (fig. 32) or by slowly turn¬ 
ing back the hand crank. 

THE SIGHTING MECHANISM. 

The sight-connecting rod is pivoted at 73 to a sight band on the gun. 
The stationary sight bracket is bolted to the turret and has a vertical 
slot cut in it to allow the sliding sight bracket to move up and down 
as the gun is elevated and depressed. 

The sight bar and head are of the ordinary type and are adjusted 
for range in the customary way. When the gun is fired the sight-con¬ 
necting rod swings to the rear about its upper pivot as a center; the 
sliding bracket moves down and up again to its former position as the 
gun runs out to battery. 

GENERAL VIEWS OF TURRET, GUNS, AND CARRIAGES, PLATES V, 

VI, AND VII. 

Plate v gives a section of turret and carriages parallel to the axes of 
the guns. The section of the turret proper is taken through the center, 
that is, on a diameter. The section of the carriage is taken through 
the axis of the gun, and consequently on a chord of the turret. 

The two lower carriages, or box slides, are bolted to four girders, 
which form the chief support of the whole turret structure. These 
girders are supported at their ends on a circular cast steel ring, travel¬ 
ing on a system of live rollers, w hich in turn move on a lower fixed 


35 


steel ring. The rollers are of hard steel and are spaced about 18 inches 
apart. They are kept in their proper relative positions by means of . 
two rings, in wliicli work the roller axles. The turret is revolved by a 
steam engine in the handling room below the protective deck. This 
engine revolves a worm shaft, working in a worm wheel' around the 
lower end of the turning tube. The worm wheel is secured to the tube 
by friction clamps, set up with just sufficient force to turn the turret. 
When a very heavy turning force is brought on the turret, as is the 
case when a single gun is fired, the tube slips in the worm wheel, and 
thus prevents the breaking of the threads on the worm shaft or the 
bringing of a too great twisting strain on the tube. 

The upper end of the turning tube is securely bolted to the turret 
floor and girders. This tube also affords a passage for the ammunition. 

Plate vi shows a section through center line of turret and perpen¬ 
dicular to the ones of the guns. Plate vn shows the plan view of turret 
and guns. Sighting towers (fig. 42) are placed on the center line of the 
turret and just outside of each gun. Prom these towers the guns are 
sighted by means of a fixed front sight on the forward edge of' the turret 
and a sliding rear sight moving up or down with the breech of the gun. 

Elevation is obtained by the handwheel (fig. 50), the shaft (fig. 49), - 
the worm (fig. 48), and the elevating wheel (fig. 52). The lateral train 
is controlled by the gun captain on the seat (tig. 66) in the sighting 
tower by means of a vertical rod running down the turning tube and 
gearing into a rack operating the valve on the turning steam engine. 

The turret can be turned at the rate of one complete revolution in 
fifty seconds. 

Holes are cut in the turret armor in rear of each gun to afford means 
of entering and leaving the turret and to permit the easy handling of 
the loading rammer. 














PLATE 1. 



8-IN.TURRET MOUNT 













































































































































PLATE 2 . 




0170 























































































PLATE 3. 



































































































































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68 Sight* Conjzechng rocf 

69 StcitioricLry Sight bracket 

fO Slidi?xg „ „ 

71 SLaht head/ 

72 i A oU 

L diver- connect, nj-roct pin. 


PLATE 5. 



8-IN. TURRET MOUNT 


62 for fofo C/Lrr isitpc 

64 GlilSc. rolUr for srlrc ro*>o f /or asn/Jtusvttio rt^AoLsC 
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NEW YORK and OLYMPIA 


















































































































































































































































































































































PLATE 6. 


8-IN. TURRET MOUNT 
NEW YORK and OLYMPIA 



























































































































































































































































































































































































































































PLATE 7 . 



IN. TURRET MOUNT 
NEW YORK and OLYMPIA 














































































































































































































































































































37 


10-INCH TURRET MOUNT, MARK II. 


This type of hydraulic mount has been constructed for the 10-inch 
and 12-inch guns of the Monterey , Amphitrite , Monadnoch , and Puritan , 
and 13 inch guns of the Indiana , Massachusetts, and Oregon. The prin¬ 
cipal parts of Mark II 10-inch mount (which corresponds to the Mark I 
12-inch mount) are as follows: 


Cun and saddle, Plate I. 
Recoil cylinder, Plate 11. 
Slide, Plate in. 

Deck lugs, Plate iv. 


Elevator, Plate v. 

Rammer, Plate vi. 

Ammunition lioist, Plate vn. 
General views, Plates vm, ix, x. 


The saddle, Plate i (fig. 2), is a bronze casting to which the gun is 
secured by front and rear straps (tigs. 6 and 7), and which is fitted to 
the rails of the slide by clips (figs. 4 and 5, Plate i). 

This saddle is connected by a heavy lug (fig. 3) to the recoil piston 
and recoils with the gun. The gun is kept from turning in its saddle 
by a key on its under side, which is also let into a recess in the saddle. 
Steel clips (fig. 4) on the outer edge of the front end of the saddle and 
bronze gibs (fig. 5) on the inner side engage the flanges of the slide rails 
and hold the gun and saddle down. 

The recoil cylinder, Plate n (fig. 41), is a steel casting bolted to the 
rear end of the slide, midway between its rails. It has three rifled 
grooves, widest at the front end, for the passage of the fluid. These 
grooves gradually decrease in width until they close at a point near 
the rear end of the cylinder. (The 12-inch mount has five grooves.) 

The piston rod is packed by a staffing box of the ordinary type. On 
the under sit'e of the front end of the cylinder are three openings for 
the escape into the overflow chamber of the fluid during recoil. These 
openings are closed by spring valves (fig. 17). There is also an opening 
in the rear end, on the under side (fig. 14), connecting with the pres¬ 
sure pipe of the hydraulic pump. A check valve is placed in this 
opening, which closes when the gun is fired. 

The piston rod (fig. 20) and head are of cast or forged steel, the rod 
being partly bored out for lightness. The piston head is not packed, 
but fits the cylinder neatly with a small clearance. On the front end 
of the rod is a heavy nut for attaching it to the saddle. 

The slide, Plate hi (fig. 24), is a large steel casting, pivoted on its 
front end (fig. 25) to the deck lugs (fig. 28, Plate iv). Its upper rails 
are planed to fit the saddle, which, with the gun, rests upon them. 

The deck lugs, Plate iv (fig. 28), are heavy steel castings bolted to 
the floor and girders (fig. 27) of the turret, to which the slide is pivoted 
by the pivot bolts (tig. 32). It supports a collar or water section (fig. 29), 
which connects the main pressure pipe with the rear end of the recoil 
cylinder to supply water to run the gun out. 

The elevator, Plate v (tig. 33), is a steel casting suspended from the 
turret girders beneath the rear end of the slide. It has a piston (fig. 34) 
packed with leather, and a connecting rod (fig. 35), by means of which 
the rear end of the slide is raised or lowered. Water is admitted to or 
released from the cylinder by means of a valve (fig. 3G). The levers 
for working this valve (tig. 37) are in the sighting tower. 




38 


The hydraulic rammer, Plate vi (fig. 40), is a bronze telescopic 
water motor, placed on brackets (fig. 42) and supported by a transom 
(fig. 43) in rear of the gun. The axis of the rammer is in the prolonga¬ 
tion of the axis of the gun when at the loading angle (10° elevation). 
The rammer is supported on trunnions (fig. 44), through which it 
receives and discharges its fluid, and upon which it is turned to a ver¬ 
tical position when the gun is fired. Water is admitted to and released 
from the rammer by means of an ordinary piston valve (fig. 45), worked 
by a hand lever (fig. 46). 

The ammunition hoist, Plate vn (fig. 48), consists of a bronze cast¬ 
ing forming three cylinders, which carry the charge, the lower one 
being for the projectile and the upper ones each carrying one-half the 
powder charge. 

The loading tray is carried on top of the upper cylinder. The car 
runs on guides (fig. 54) from the handling room to the breech of the 
gun. The ammunition-hoist motor (fig. 49) is of bronze, and consists 
of a hydraulic piston, with three sheaves at its end, working in a cylin¬ 
der, also fitted at its closed end with three sheaves. A wire rope is 
rove around the sheaves through an overhead block (fig. 56) at the 
turret roof and to the car; the other end is made fast to the cylinder. 
The running out of the piston causes a quick movement to the ammu¬ 
nition car. In the handling room is a small car and turntable (fig. 57), 
upon which the projectile is landed from a shell carrier and overhead 
trolleys. From this turntable the shell is pushed into the cylinder of 
the ammunition car. 

Eeferring to Plates n and vm it will be seen that when the gun is 
run out and in position to be fired the piston rod is drawn out of the 
recoil cylinder to its full length, and the latter would consequently be 
full of water, as the pump must be in operation and the cylinder and 
system filled before the gun can be fired. The pumps are to be kept 
in operation during the firing. The walls of the recoil cylinder being 
cut with rifled grooves, the pump pressure is exerted on both sides of 
the piston, and the fluid would escape through the three spring valves 
(fig. 17) at tho front end of the cylinder were the springs not set up 
sufficiently to resist the pump pressure, which is expected to be main¬ 
tained at 600 pounds per square inch. 

Water is admitted to the recoil cylinder only at the rear end, through 
the aperture (fig. 14), and can escape only at the front end, as there is 
a check valve in the supply pipe (fig. 14), which closes when recoil 
takes place; otherwise the pipes or pump would be burst by the violent 
and sudden pressure due to recoil. When the gun is fired the piston 
rod is driven into the recoil cylinder, and consequently must displace 
a quantity of water equal to the volume of the entering piston rod. 
The fluid thus displaced escapes by the spring valves (fig. 17) into the 
overflow chamber (fig. 21), and thence by a flexible hose attached to 
the opening (fig. 22) to the exhaust or waste pipe, and back to the tank. 

Eecoil is taken up by the restriction of the fluid in passing from the 
pressure to the reverse side of the piston by means of the grooves in 
the cylinder, and while the spring valves are on the reverse side the 
tension on the springs does, in a manner, affect the recoil, and if they 
are set up too tightly the length of recoil will be reduced. These 
springs should be set up so that the valves will be tight under the 
normal pressure ot 600 pounds per square inch and no more. Care 
should be taken to see that the valves have a lift of not less than 
three-fourths inch, as this is necessary to give a proper valve opening 
for the escape of the water when the gun is fired. 


39 


When recoil takes place the check valve in the pressure pipe closes, 
but as soon as the gun is at rest pressure is admitted to the cylinder 
and its action on the rear face of the piston returns the gun to battery. 
The effective area for doing this work is the area of the piston rod. 

If it be desired to run the gun in for any purpose, it is necessary to 
close the valve (tig. 66) in the pressure pipe, thus cutting off* the pump; 
bring the gun to the loading position and raise the central spring 
valve (tig. 18), when the gun will run in by gravity. To run the gun 
out again set up the relief valve (tig. 18) and open the valve in the 
pressure pipe (tig. 66). If it be desired to raise the breech of the gun 
the valve admitting pressure to the elevator (the one toward the 
muzzle of the gun) must be raised, when the elevator piston will at 
once rise. To lower the breech, close the valve which admits pressure 
and raise the other, when the gun and slide will fall by gravity. The 
upward movement of the elevator piston is finally checked by a ring 
screwed into the upper part of the elevator cylinder. In raising the 
breech above the level water should be admitted to the elevator cylinder 
very slowly in order that the elevator piston will not strike the ring 
in the cylinder with a blow. 

The motors for the ammunition hoists, elevators, and the hydraulic 
rammers have leather cup packing and balanced piston valves, and 
should have the water let on daily in order to keep the packing from 
becoming dry. Should the spring valves at the front end of the recoil 
cylinder leak very considerably, no ill effect would result, provided the 
cylinder were kept full, as the leakage would simply run into the 
exhaust pipe and back to the tank. The spring valves should be tight 
under the ordinary pressure of 600 pounds per square inch. By uncoup¬ 
ling the flexible hose when the pump is in operation it can be readily 
ascertained whether the valves are leaking. 

In loading, the gun is brought to an angle of 10°. To facilitate this, 
under the ordinary conditions of firing, a bronze casting is attached 
to the top of the elevator upon .which the slide will rest when at that 
angle. If a greater elevation than 10° is necessary the casting can be 
removed and the slide held in place by the locking bolts (fig. 30) at the 
loading position. The gun being in the loading position, that is, at an 
angle of 10° elevation, and run out on the slide, the breech is opened, 
the rammer turned down from the natural to the loading position, and 
clamped to its transom. 

The charge and projectile having been placed in the hoist in the 
handling room below, it is run up by the hoisting motor until the plug 
tray is in line with the screw box of the gun, when it is placed in posi¬ 
tion for loading. The car is then raised till the cylinder carrying the 
projectile is fair with the bore. In so doing the car should be per¬ 
mitted to raise a few inches above and then should be lowered, when it 
will land on stops on the guides and will not go lower. The rammer may 
then be operated and the projectile driven home. It is necessary that 
the car should rest on the stops referred to, as the rammer, having 
great power, would probably do some injury were it to strike the car. 

After the projectile is rammed home the rammer is withdrawn, the 
car slightly raised to free the pawls and then lowered to the proper 
position for loading, first one-half and then the other ot the powder 
charge, there being stops at proper intervals on the guides to support 
it. The car, having received the loading tray, is lowered to the hand¬ 
ling room, the rammer is turned up to a vertical position, breech plug 
closed, and the gun is ready to be laid at any angle and fired. 


40 


Each motor has its pressure and exhaust pipes connecting with the 
main pressure and exhaust pipes, and each is supplied with a valve, 
by means of which any one may be shut off if necessary. There is also 
a valve on each side of the main pressure pipe, by means of which the 
whole of either mount may be cut off if desirable. 

A small bristle sponge with a staff of convenient length is most 
suitable for cleaning out the chamber, a scraper being sometimes 
required to clean the compression slope. For cleaning the bore a 
sponge head with a lanyard at each end is found more convenient than 
one with a long staff. The bore does not require cleaning until after 
firing is over. Should the projectile fail to stick in its seat, a rope yarn 
tied around it in front of the band will probably overcome the diffi¬ 
culty; but the power of the rammer is sufficient ordinarily to drive it 
in with such force as to make it remain in its seat. 





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1 



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V 

— 







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4 


M 























































































































































PLATE 5. 







\ V 'i vi 

•>» "i ”■* "» 


i. 

























































































































































































PLATE 6. 


46 




ZZ2 


TmrrrrmTTnhin mm a m in mm* 










HYDRAULIC RAMMER 
IO-inch TURRET MOUNT 
Mark II. 



















































































































































































































































PLATE 7 


V/ 

Mr 

50 
S/ 

51 
So 
ss 
So 
*7. 



,+H.jnu u/ron Avi>£ 

9 . ’’ /netrr. run m 

run out . 

" ru/tfo 

** *’ /orusurt' t.’t t t/e/ 

M - . - . ’ 4 Vfit *Utjt fiHMt 

V . yu/,Yts. 

- ” . . ." »irc th/( 

/truetu-{ a/ut j/ua* C' 

X iir n//<£- Yu/'/ttaArit *£>r ' /utn, limy firro/cctiUj 


AMMUNITION HOIST 

10-inch TURRET MOUNT 
Mark II. 


57 




























































































• ^ 




















































































PLATE 8. 


CLNERAL PLAN 

SIDE ELEVATION 

10-inch TURRET MOUNT 
Mark II. 


/O^X.L.TV 
Saddle 
TUeoiL Uig 
Polduig dome clips 
n . . . " gibs 
.. Front straps 
Tlear straps. 

Front saddle, holts 
Hear •' » 

Note rbr locking holt 
7teeoit Cf Under. 

Mear bonnet 
Slurring bcccavut gland, 

. Opening tor pump pressure and c/tee/c raise - 
.. Treasure, side, 

Tlerersc side 
. Spring raise 
Telus' raise {tnlrc one} 
fo/le, 

pistorv rod- /uad. and nut 
Orer-floor cAam/scr 
Connection, tbrnaste pipe 
Lug rbr cleralor connecting rod 
.. .S U d c , 

.. Ttolcs tor pirot bolts 
.. Moles rbr loeAuigbolts. 

Turret girders 
IM-c/t lugs 

Collar rorpressure pipe, 

.-Loc/Ung bolts 
Users 
_ Tisoi bolts 
XU rotor 

piston 

Connecting rod 

_”... raises 

raise rods and Users. 

. pressure pipe 

. CocAaust pipe 

Mrdraulec rammer tscttMidcna position. 

/truedposition, 

. bmcJoets 
. transom 
trunnions 

..*_ . rearer 

_ T . . _ operating User 

. ... ?. fulcrum, rbr User, and guide rbr raise stent, 

..IThcmunitions hoist 

_. H . Tnotor run/ uv 

..*_".. run oat 

. n _ . raises 

.pressure jupo 
id/tausl pipe 
guides, 
nise rope tkU 
bracket as id, shearc 
.. Car asid, turntable, lor haudtuig preycettles 
Teles tat tor cnlral column 
Central column. 

/Taler section 
Treasure pipe 
Xx/uuui pipe 
. Tlat/orm 
. X adder to turret 
.. Sights 






























































































































































































































































































.11 >HbM 

































PLATE 9. 



GENERAL PLAN 

REAR VIEW 

iO-inch TURRET MOUNT 
Mark II. 



























































































































































































































PLATE 10. 


I 


I 





10-inch TURRET MOUNT 
Mark Jl. 








































































































































10-INCH TURRET MOUNT, MARK III. 


This type of mount has been adopted for the 10-inch grins of the 
Maine and the 12-inch guns of the Texas. In the case of the Texas 
they are distinguished a - 12-inch mounts. Mark II. 

This type of mount differs from the 10 inch Mark II and 12-incli 
Mark I in the method of checking the recoil and returning the gun to 
battery. Here the recoil is controlled entirely by a piston working in 
a closed cylinder ritled with the ordinary form of groove. The gun is 
returned to battery by means o: pistons working in auxiliary cylinders. 
The principal parts of this mount are the following: 

Gun and saddle, Plate i. Gun-working motor, Plate vi. 

Recoil cylinder, Plate n. Rammer, Plate vn. 

Slide. Plate in. Ammunition hoists. Plate vin. 

Deck lugs and turret girders, Plate iv. Arrangement of sights. Plate ix. 
Elevator, Plate v. General views, Plate x, xi, xn. 

TIIE SADDLE, PLATE I. 


Fig. 2 is a bronze casting fitted to the slide rails, and to which the 
gun is secured by the front and rear straps (tigs. 0 and 7). It has on 
its under side, at the rear end. a heavy lug (fig. 3), to which the recoil 
piston rod ^fig. IS is attached: also two smaller lugs at the front end 
tig. 10), to which the piston rods of the gun-working motors (fig. 40) 
are secured. The saddle is held to the slide by steel clips ^fig. 4) and 
bronze gibs ; tig. 5) to prevent its rising when the gun is fired. 

The gun is held out to battery by means of the spring holding out 
device Plate xm). The latch d hooks to the bolt a when the gun is 
out. the former having a certain amount of vertical motion about e 
that permits it to slide up and engage the hook at the end of the bolt. 
The spring h is set up by the piston c to a tension sufficient t > hold the 
gun out when at maximum elevation. When the gun is tired, the bolt 
is drawn out against the pressure of the spring and the latch slides up 
on the inclined jaws f and is released. To prevent the bolt from 
recoiling too rapidly after releasing, the cylinder b is tilled with oil. 
which is permitted to flow from one side to the other through small 
holes cut in the piston. 


THE RECOIL CYLINDER, PLATE II. 

The recoil cylinder (fig. 12) is of cast steel and is bolted by its 
flanges fig. 20' to corresponding flanges (tig. 20 on the slide. It is 
located at the front end of the slide, midway between the rails, and lias 
no connection whatever with the hydraulic system, being a closed recep¬ 
tacle filled with glycerin mixed with 20 per cent of fresh water. 

Its piston rod (fig. IS), which is drawn out when recoil takes place or 
the gun is run in. is connected by the piston nut (fig. 21) to the recoil 
lug fig. 3) oil the saddle. Its front end is closed by a steel bonnet 
(tig. v2) and its rear end has an ordinary stuffing box and gland (fig. 
14). The cylinder is rifled with three grooves, by means of which the 
fluid passes from one side of the piston head to the other. Ihe piston 


42 


rod (fig. 18) is of forged steel. The piston head (fig. 17) is of cast 
steel and fits the cylinder neatly with a small clearance. When the 
recoil cylinder is filled the gun must be run entirely out on the slide, 
in order that the full volume of the piston rod may be in the cylinder. 
Filling and draining holes are provided; counter-recoil bumpers are 
attached to the lugs (fig. 19) on top of the cylinder. 

THE SLIDE, PLATE HI. 

The slide (fig. 23) is of cast steel and pivots at its front end to the 
deck lugs (fig. 28) by means of pivot bolts (fig. 28.1). The recoil 
cylinder is bolted to tlanges on the slide (fig. 26). In the rear end of 
the slide there are two gun-working motors (fig. 39), one on each side, 
whose function is to run the gun in or out. The valve stems (fig. 
41£) of these motors are attached to the same shaft and the valves 
(fig. 41) are simultaneously operated by a hand lever (fig. 431). 
When this lever is thrown to the rear to run the gun out, the lever is 
held back by means of a catch (fig. 65), attached to which is a weight 
(fig. 64) to throw the lever (fig. 431) forward, when the catch is released 
by the movement of the saddle as it approaches its final position when 
the gun is run out. There is also a striker on the rear end of the sad¬ 
dle, which brings up against the lever (fig. 43^) au( l throws it for¬ 
ward when the gun is run out, thus cutting off the pressure from the 
gun-working motors (fig. 39) and allowing the water in them to run 
back to the exhaust system. 

In their normal position the gun-working motors have no pressure 
on them, and when the gun is fired it will remain in until the lever (fig. 
431) is thrown to the rear. When the lever is brought to the rear 
pressure is admitted to the motors and the gun is returned to battery. 

Should it be desired to run the gun in, the elevator can be lowered 
and it will come in by gravity, but if desired to run in with the slide 
rails level a stop on the slide must be turned down and the lever (fig. 
431) thrown forward, when the gun-working motors will receive pres¬ 
sure from their front ends, and will run the gun in Keversing the 
levers will run the gun out again. 

DECK LUGS AND TURItET GIRDERS, PLATE IV. 

The deck lugs (fig. 28) are of cast steel and are bolted to the turret 
floor and the girders (fig. 29). 

THE ELEVATOR, PLATE V. 

The elevator is of cast steel. The cylinder (fig. 32) has arms by 
means of which it is bolted to the turret girders. Its piston (fig. 33) 
is of cast steel and has a leather packing at its lower end. There is a 
bronze ring in the top of the cylinder to arrest the upward movement 
of the piston when the gun has reached its maximum depression. 

^There is a connecting rod (fig. 34) attached to lugs on the slide (fig. 
27) which rests on the elevator piston and imparts movement to the 
slide when pressure is admitted. When the valves are opened for the 
escape of water from the elevator the breech end of the gun and slide 
fall by gravity. The levers (fig. 36) for operating the elevator are in 
the sighting tower (fig. 62) and the valves (fig. 35) are between the tur¬ 
ret girders (fig. 29). 





43 


THE GUN-WORKING MOTORS, PLATE VI. 

The gun-working motors are of bronze. They have bronze piston rods 
and pistons (fig. 4u) and are controlled by piston valves (fig. 41). 

TIIE RAMMER, FLATE VII, 

is of the oscillating type (fig. 44), and must be thrown up vertically 
when not in use for loading the gun. When in position for use it is 
clamped to its transom (fig. 45). it receives and discharges its fiuid 
through its trunnion (fig. 484). The operating lever (fig. 48) has a 
stop to hold it when not in use in such a position that the pressure is 
on, but in the direction which keeps the sections closed. The valves 
(fig. 47) are of the piston type. The packing is cup-shaped and is of 
leather. Unless kept wet this packing is liable to leak when first put 
in use. 

AMMUNITION HOIST, PLATE VIII. 

This is of the same type as in the Mark II mount, and the handling 
of ammunition and process of loading is the same as in the Mark II 
mount. 


LOADING SHOE. 

To diminish the strain on the rammer and to facilitate loading by 
hand in case the rammer is disabled, a sliding tray is provided which 
keeps the shell centered as it slides along the chamber of the gun. 

This tray or loading shoe, as it is called, is made of hard wood lined 
with sheet steel on its upper face, and is just thick enough to raise the 
axis of the shell up to the axis of the gun when in the chamber. On 
its rear end it carries the lug A, which has a vertical movement in a 
suitable guide and is kept up by the light spring B. The loading shoe 
is placed in the gun on the loading tray, and as the shell is rammed 
out of the carrier the nose forces the lug down and the body of the 
shell passes over it. On the rammer head is screwed a horseshoe¬ 
shaped piece of metal slightly thicker than the lug. This pushes 
against the base of the shell and allows the lug to spring up into place 
when the shell has passed over, and the rammer then presses against 
the shell and lug and forces shell and loading shoe along the bore. 
The chain C is made fast to the bell crank D, and is just long enough 
to allow the shoulder of the shell to enter the rifling, its rear end being 
fastened to the rear end of the gun-carriage slide. When the shell 
lias reached this part of its travel the chain pulls down on the bell 
crank, allowing the rammer head to clear the lug and push the shell 
home. When the rammer is withdrawn the loading shoe is drawn out 
by means of the chain. 

























PLATE 1 





'A 






^ I 

3.1 


■$ 

Vi 

$ 


§ 53 


« 3 t 


«,-1 

^ i>- sj 

*$ £ 3 

•s> 


c 

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tti 

if) 


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5: i; > 
* £ £ 


L 

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I ^ 

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* $s 

^ I 


Vi S? 0 


$ 'I f$ $ 

V; N «S >• v> ^ K *r> V ^ ^ 


H 

z 

3 

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a: 

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3 

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Mark III. 































































PLATE 2 




K 21 


I 

Si 

jS 


1 


I 


oi 

in 




V 

4 


r. 




I 

$ 




ij 

& 


S? '£ £ £ fC 


^ .1 | 
3^ 

Ml 


<?' $ ^ *$ ^ ^ ^ $s 


^ V M 

M r * r i 


10-inch TURRET MOUNT 

Mark III. 




















































































































PLATE 3 




V 

£ 


'o 


5 


§ 

> 

|1 

t § 

■a 

§> 
§ | 


V) 

*•$ 


-s 


v; 

V 


5 ^ 

*L $ 


- 5 X 
£ % £ 


5 $ 
11 


^ ^ 'V K 

r« fs| ^ fSt «N 


10-inch TURRET MOUNT 






































































































PLATE 4. 




















































































































































PLATE 5. 





10-inch TURRET MOUNT 








































































































































PLATE 6. 




GUN-WORKING MOTOR 

0 

IO-inch TURRET MOUNT 

Mark III. 



























































































































PLATE 7. 



v 

. 


14 

I 8 

nh -Q 


.1 


5 v $ 

I § ? 

W ^ >is 


* $ S' V ? 


10-inch TURRET MOUNT 























































PLATE 8. 


SWT 



/</. St/imu/ulio/o//ou*/ A/ofor 
So " '• User 

S/ ” v quoits* 


JO-inch TURRET MOUNT 
Mark III. 


Ammunition Hoist. 
























































































































PLATE 9. 



































































































PLATE 10. 



Sf. Tclc&copus CJC/ULUAtpipCi 
60. Water Catlajr 
6/. Water Stdron : 
o2. S/yhtzno -Jiood 


GerueroLPlan, rear view 

10-inch TURRET MOUNT 
Mark III. 


































































































































































































































































































PLATE 11 


r 


/. 


I 


Z 

J 

4 . 

S s. 
6 . 

/ 

t. 

f> 

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V //, 

- A 

/A 
/4 
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-f * 
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2 < 

V 22 . 

23 


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f 


Jz. 


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*t. 

(Z 

El V/ 
■8 


/O’JBL.Ttr 
Saddle. 

TUeoilLug 

Touting domt cliyjs 
" " 

Trent Straps 
Ttcar *> 

Front 'Ssutait bolts 
fU<zr v " 

£*ug fbrgurL/ r'orfftsip /no for 
JfoUZCrvgr- out hcotchr 
Ticcoct CytuzcUr 
TUetrJTort rtc-ts. 

Siuntbig box and gfo/ut 
Treasure S/tle- 
Tforerjc ” 

Ttsfon- 
Tu forts TlocO 
IStt/uper 

Tlo/igcs f^r^ettrutg fo &/utc. 

Tcsfoto /Yu£ 

Tro/tl 3o/t/iet-. 

7/oles for finrot bolts 
S/yht/ng Ziolc 

TTeuu/c* f&r jecurut# recoil cylinder, 
hug /hr atteu-fimg-iterator connec ting rocV 
Mcclc hugs 
Turret Oirelers 

ft CLm-m.eT' 

hocking holts 
HUrator Cylinder 

* pistons 

* eo/i/iectuig rod/ 

* A’aZres 

» Ifrfrj 

* /Jrescure. pi/ac* 

» CacAmut " 

Gun. Tfor/ung Motor 

* ” * pusfo/r 




2 Sfc. T-U'ol Holts, 


i: 


{■ 


/: 


■ 42 . 
43 

- 4 &'A 

44. 

4f 

^ *« 
1 <4 

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<y. 

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I /*■ 

^ ss, 

<■ 

3 S 6 . 

i* 

k Sf 

r s ? 

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I* 

V 62 . 


» » ' ralres ll’/i. Giui. Wor/ting .Zfttiir 

n * " pressure, pipe ratre ftcnc. 

v * • eechaust pipe: 

” " " Urers 

Teunmer 

" Transom 

* TtraclLets 

" Zaires 

i Zerers 

» .trunnions 

St-uiuutition- Z/otsl Afo/or 


Sight -Bars 

» + carrier 

yUu.lt on. slute /or refills 
J\-uore on-bulkhead-- 
sight vn-epnjvmg loner 

Sig/it' hole lrL t&* tr ~. 

Telescopic ex/tausl/jipe, 
/later Collar' 

Taler Jpetion- 
\SlCfhtiny- hood 



r 13 . Tclcseopic pressure pipe 
^ c< Weight fis operate ralres ofgun- nor lung motor. 

SS Catdi to support —eig/U 6S. * 

’ ^ sc Central CoUenuir 


General Plan, 

10-inch TURRET MOUNT 


Mark III, 



































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































. 



































































PLATE 12. 






* 





10-inch TURRET MOUNT 































































































































































PLATE 13. 



I 




M 

<3 

> 

LJ 


Q 

I— 

3 

d 

i 

CJ 


CD 

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3 


K 

Z 

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QC 

DC 

3 

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x; 

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3 

3 

CJT 


Mark III. 



















































































LOADING-SHOE 

















































































































































































































































































45 


THE CARE AND PRESERVATION OF HYDRAULIC TURRET MOUNTS. 

Cup-leatlier packings should be occasionally well oiled to insure their 
pliability, and no great period should be allowed to elapse without cir¬ 
culating water throughout the entire system for the purpose of wetting 
these packings. This is particularly important with respect to the ram¬ 
mer. If the rammer packings are allowed to become dry, upon the 
admission of water under pressure it will spurt out at the front ends of 
the joints and some time will elapse before the packings will operate 
and allow the rammer to be used. 

It is highly important that the water used shall be clean and abso¬ 
lutely free from grit. The supply tank should be thoroughly cleaned 
and filled with distilled water. 

All cylinders, pipes, and valves should be kept drained and particu¬ 
lar care should be exercised that this is accomplished when there is 
any liability of the pressure water freezing. 

All sliding parts should be kept well oiled and free from rust. The 
turret roller path should be kept perfectly clean and covered with a 
slight coating of oil. 

As the top of the elevating ram is open, small tools and light articles 
might be dropped in the ram through accident or carelessness. This 
should be carefully guarded against and an examination be made fre¬ 
quently with a view to ascertaining that it is clear. 

In the Mark II 10-inch and Mark 112-inch mounts, itis important that 
the small air valves on top of the relief chamber should be clean and in 
good working order, or else they will fail to open, the relief chamber 
will remain full of water, and at the first fire the rubber exhaust hose or 
relief chamber itself will burst. 

The three spring-loaded relief valves in the forward end of the recoil 
cylinder in these mounts are provided with ample lift, and just sufficient 
pressure should be exerted by the springs to keep them from leaking 
when the pressure of GOO pounds to the square inch is on. From con¬ 
tinued use the springs weaken slightly and require setting up. Great 
care should be exercised that sufficient play is left in the springs after 
setting them up to allow for a full lift of the valves. 

The Mark III 10-inch and Mark II 12-inch mounts having independ¬ 
ent recoil cylinders, the running-out motor rods are arranged so that 
they will push the gun out to battery, where it will be held, ready to 
fire, by the holding-out bolt. Just as the gun gets out the valve is 
automatically reversed and the rods run in out of the way of recoil. 
There should be one man in the gun’s crew whose duty it is to see that 
these rods have run back before the gun is fired. 

In case the running-out motors are disabled, the gun may be jacked 
out to battery. 

The holding-out bolt cylinders are kept filled with mineral lubri¬ 
cating oil. In case the stuffing box in the after end should leak and 
require setting up, the gun may be run in, the holding out device 
removed from the recoil cylinders of the mount, when, with the 
increased accessibility, the stuffing box can be set up with little diffi¬ 
culty. When well packed the necessity for setting up should not occur 
more than once a year. 




The men should be taught to close valves slowly. The static pres¬ 
sure is greatly increased by the “ water ram” caused by suddenly stop¬ 
ping the flow. In this connection it is well to call attention to the use¬ 
lessness of attempting to force the shell home in the bore by more 
than one blow of the rammer. In case the shell sticks in the slope of 
the chamber, withdrawing the rammer and running it out again will 
not remedy the difficulty, and will only endanger the hydraulic fittings 
by causing a “water ram” when the rammer brings up against the 
base of the shell. If the shell sticks the rammer should be withdrawn 
and the shell backed out by means of a piece of scantling or boat’s 
strong-back. 

When the loading shoe is used a very small valve opening should 
be given the rammer, or it will move forward too rapidly. 


































































































